Army cutworm
| Army cutworm | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Euxoa |
| Species: | E. auxiliaris
|
| Binomial name | |
| Euxoa auxiliaris (Grote, 1873)
| |
The army cutworm is the immature form of Euxoa auxiliaris.[1][2] Together with other moths that are locally abundant and that have scales that dislodge from the wings,[3] the adult moth is called a miller moth.[1][3]
These native North American larvae consume emerging small grains, alfalfa, and canola in the southern Great Plains[4] and southern Canada.[5] Larvae[clarification needed] feed above ground at night and usually hide in soil during daylight, but will also feed on cloudy days.[6][clarification needed]
On dry, low elevation rangelands of the U.S. Intermountain West, army cutworms consume exotic cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and mustards to produce cheatgrass "die-offs." Within these bare areas, the larvae also defoliate native shrubs including four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.).[7]
The miller moth is a seasonal nuisance in the spring in states including Montana,[3] Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Kansas, as they hatch in the low-lying farmlands, then migrate to higher elevations for the summer. They return as the weather cools but in smaller numbers. They are considered nearly impossible to control through normal pest extermination techniques because a new batch shows up every day as they migrate. With their very small bodies, they enter homes (attracted by the light) in the evening through any available crack or crevice (doorjamb, chimney, etc.) and residents in migration paths report dozens of moths per day entering their homes and garages. However, other than being a nuisance, they are not considered harmful.[8][9][10]
Location
[edit]Euxoa auxiliaris is commonly found in the Western section and prairies of the United States. They are known to travel to alpine climate regions in late June and early July where they feed at night on the nectar of wildflowers. Army cutworms are one of the richest foods for predators, such as brown bears, in this ecosystem, where up to 72% of the moth's body weight is fat, thus making it more calorie-rich than elk or deer.[11] This is the highest known body fat percentage of any animal.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Species Euxoa auxiliaris - Army Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10731". Bug Guide. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Euxoa auxiliaris". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- ^ a b c Laurie Kerzicnik (28 June 2022). "Miller Moths" (PDF). Montana State University Extension Service. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Michaud, J.P.; Bauernfeind, R.J. (2014). Army Cutworm (PDF) (Report). Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Fact sheet MF3150. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ Meers, S. "Army cutworm". Alberta Agriculture & Forestry. Alberta Agriculture. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Peairs, F. (2010). Caterpillars in small grains (Report). Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins, CO. Online fact sheet 5.577. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ Salo, C. (15 August 2018). "Army Cutworm Outbreak Produced Cheatgrass Die-offs and Defoliated Shrubs in Southwest Idaho in 2014". Rangelands. 40 (4): 99–105. doi:10.1016/j.rala.2018.05.003. S2CID 91086117.
- ^ "The Hutchinson News Online Edition". Hutchnews.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ "Run! Hide! The miller moth invasion has begun". Gazette.com. 2012-04-23. Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ "Warm temperatures bring in miller moths - Lexington Clipper-Herald : News". Lexch.com. 2012-04-25. Archived from the original on 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ Chadwick, Douglas. "Grizzlies", "National Geographic", 2001-07-01
- ^ "The fattest animal on Earth". BBC Earth. Archived from the original on 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
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