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Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth

Spodoptera ornithogalli

The Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth is a small, colorful moth with yellow stripes. It loves to flutter around gardens and fields, especially at night when it is most active.

Habitat: Urban areas, Gardens, Fields

Appearance

The Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth has mottled brownish-gray forewings often marked with a distinct, oblique pale yellow or creamy stripe. Its hindwings are usually whitish with a darker outer margin, making it visually distinct from many drab brown moths.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNoctuidaeGenusSpodoptera
Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth
striped trait badgesolitary trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badge
Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Wow! Adult moths only drink sweet flower nectar and don't eat solid food!

Wow! Its fuzzy body helps it stay warm when the night air gets chilly!

Wow! The caterpillars can change color to match their food plants!

Wow! This moth has special "ears" to hear hungry bats flying nearby!

Special abilities

Ability

Camouflage Master

Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth can disappear against tree bark because its mottled wings perfectly mimic natural textures and colors.

Ability

Eating Machine

Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth caterpillars can eat over 100 different plant species because of their powerful jaws that help them consume diverse vegetation.

Ability

Night Navigator

Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth can fly and find food in darkness because it uses highly sensitive antennae to detect flower scents.

Ability

Army March

Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth caterpillars can march in large groups because this helps them find new food sources quickly and safely.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
30-45 mm
Size
15-20 mm
Lifespan
7-14 days
Flight Speed
12 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adult moths sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars are hungry plant eaters.

Age differences: Caterpillars eat plant leaves; adults drink flower nectar.

Primary Foods

  • Corn
  • Cotton
  • Alfalfa
  • Soybeans
  • Tomatoes
  • Cabbage

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Hunts flying adult moths.

eaten by

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Preys on caterpillars and moths.

parasitizes

Trichogramma Wasp

Trichogramma pretiosum

Lays eggs inside moth eggs.

eats

Corn

Zea mays

Caterpillars feed on its leaves.

eats

Cotton

Gossypium hirsutum

Larvae consume cotton foliage.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch moths from a distance and don't touch them, as they can be delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth's wingspan?

30-45 mm

How big is Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth?

15-20 mm

How long does Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth live?

7-14 days

How fast can Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth fly?

12 km/h

What does Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth eat?

Adult moths sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars are hungry plant eaters.

Where is Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth usually found?

Urban areas, Gardens, Fields

How does Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth have?

6

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