# Green Cloverworm Moth (*Hypena scabra*) The Green Cloverworm Moth is a small, green moth that loves to hide among plants. It has a soft, fuzzy body and is often found in gardens and fields, making it a fun little friend to discover! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Green Cloverworm Moth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/-_8465_%E2%80%93_Hypena_scabra_%E2%80%93_Green_Cloverworm_Moth_%2813114944803%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-_8465_%E2%80%93_Hypena_scabra_%E2%80%93_Green_Cloverworm_Moth_%2813114944803%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Green Cloverworm Moth has a mottled gray-brown body with wavy lines and sometimes a pale streak across its forewings. Its drab coloring helps it blend perfectly with dried leaves and plant stems, making it hard to spot in its environment. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Erebidae - **Genus:** Hypena ## Interesting facts - Adult Green Cloverworm Moths don't have teeth; they drink all their meals through a special straw! - If you see them wiggling in a zig-zag, they're probably trying to escape a hungry bird! - Its caterpillar form is a tiny munching machine, often found happily eating clover leaves! - These moths are amazing travelers, sometimes flying hundreds of miles like little feathered airplanes! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Green Cloverworm Moth can blend seamlessly with plants and dirt because of its drab, mottled wings that help them hide from predators. - **Long-Distance Flyer:** Green Cloverworm Moth can travel hundreds of miles because of its strong wings that help them migrate to new food sources. - **Nectar Sipper:** Green Cloverworm Moth has a straw-like proboscis that helps them drink sweet nectar from flowers and other plant liquids. - **Night Navigator:** Green Cloverworm Moth has feathered antennae that help them smell distant flower nectar and find mates in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar; caterpillars munch on clover and other legumes. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat plant leaves; adults drink nectar and other plant fluids. - **Primary Foods:** clover leaves, alfalfa leaves, soybean leaves, flower nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this common plant. - **Eats:** [Soybean](https://www.snappit.app/explore/soybean) (*Glycine max*) — Caterpillars are a known agricultural pest on soybean crops. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Nocturnal moths provide an important food source for bats. - **Parasitizes:** Cloverworm Parasitoid Wasp (*Hyposoter exiguae*) — Wasp larvae develop inside the living caterpillar host. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch insects, as some may be delicate or have special needs. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Cloverworm Moth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Green Cloverworm Moth's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Green Cloverworm Moth? 10-14 mm ### How long does Green Cloverworm Moth live? 10-20 days ### What does Green Cloverworm Moth eat? Adults sip nectar; caterpillars munch on clover and other legumes. ### Where is Green Cloverworm Moth usually found? Grasslands ### How does Green Cloverworm Moth hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Green Cloverworm Moth have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Downtown Tuscaloosa Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-tuscaloosa-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Gorgas-Manly Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gorgas-manly-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Pointe Mouillee State Game Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pointe-mouillee-state-game-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Popes Head Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/popes-head-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Green Cloverworm Moth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/green-cloverworm-moth) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Green Cloverworm Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-cloverworm-moth)