Bug FAQBristly Cutworm Moth
Lacinipolia renigera · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Bristly Cutworm, Kidney-Spotted Minor
Source: Wikipedia
The Bristly Cutworm Moth has a wingspan of about 21 to 30 mm, smaller than most Noctuidae moths. Adults rest with their hindwings tucked under the forewings, giving a tent-shaped outline, and their forewings are dark grey-brown with three green spots, one edged in white. The larvae feed on many herbaceous plants and are considered pests of crops like cabbage, lettuce and corn.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults tuck their hindwings under the forewings, forming an arrowhead or tent shape. Forewings are dark grey-brown with three green spots, one bordered with white; hindwings are whitish-gray fading to darker gray at the edge.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 21 to 30 mm, which is small for the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found across most of North America except Yukon, Alaska, the Gulf coastal plain, and it is sparse in the western United States.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat many herbaceous plants such as chicory, dandelion, clover and others. They are also pests of agricultural crops like cabbage, lettuce and corn.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May through October, varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period spans May to October depending on region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Endemic to most of North America, missing from Yukon, Alaska, the Gulf coastal plain, and less common in the west.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 41 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Illinois.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae damage?
They feed on many herbaceous weeds and can damage crops such as cabbage, lettuce and corn.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see these moths?
Adults are active from May to October, depending on where you live.
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/Lacinipolia_renigera
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.