Bug FAQAlfalfa Looper
Autographa californica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Alfalfa Looper Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The adult moth has a wingspan of about 36 to 42 mm. The larvae eat a very wide range of plants, including many common garden and crop families.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 36 to 42 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants. Recorded food plants include species from families such as Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae and many others.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to western North America, covering the same area as its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see the adult moth?
Adults fly from July to October, with exact timing varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autographa_californica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.