Moth id and treatment - Ask Extension
Hi
A stakeholder sent me these pictures and is wondering what it is and how they can treat. They live in John Day and have them in their yard area.
Knowledgebase
Moth id and treatment #828890
Asked May 07, 2023, 11:54 PM EDT
Hi
A stakeholder sent me these pictures and is wondering what it is and how they can treat. They live in John Day and have them in their yard area.
Grant County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Didgette,
That is a moth from the family Noctuidae. Their caterpillars are the cutworms, armyworms and semi-loopers. I am about 90% sure that moth is a species called the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica, because of the shape of the white marks on the front wings and the fact that this moth was found pretty early in the growing season. Their caterpillars can feed on a wide variety of plants, but they seem to prefer plants in the pea/bean family.
Here is a link with a lot of information about the species...
http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-noctuidae/subfamily-plusiinae/tribe-plusiini/autographa/autographa-californica/
The stakeholder may not need to do anything about these moths, but may choose to use some control measures if they are noticing excessive damage to plants they are trying to grow. Here is a link to a page from the PNW Insect Management Handbook that lists some control options for alfalfa loopers in alfalfa grown for seed in case that would help...
Yours,
That is a moth from the family Noctuidae. Their caterpillars are the cutworms, armyworms and semi-loopers. I am about 90% sure that moth is a species called the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica, because of the shape of the white marks on the front wings and the fact that this moth was found pretty early in the growing season. Their caterpillars can feed on a wide variety of plants, but they seem to prefer plants in the pea/bean family.
Here is a link with a lot of information about the species...
http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-noctuidae/subfamily-plusiinae/tribe-plusiini/autographa/autographa-californica/
The stakeholder may not need to do anything about these moths, but may choose to use some control measures if they are noticing excessive damage to plants they are trying to grow. Here is a link to a page from the PNW Insect Management Handbook that lists some control options for alfalfa loopers in alfalfa grown for seed in case that would help...
Yours,
