Bug FAQNutmeg Moth
Anarta trifolii · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Clover Cutworm Moth, Clover Cutworm, The Nutmeg
The Nutmeg Moth has a wingspan of about 33 to 39 mm and shows a distinctive W-shaped white line near the edge of its forewings. It lives in the Western Palearctic, parts of Africa and Quebec, flies at night from May to September, and overwinters as a pupa.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
A key field mark is a white, W-shaped subterminal line on the forewings, and the hindwings are grey or buff with darker edges and dark veins.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are small to medium, with a wingspan of roughly 33 to 39 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs across western Europe, Tunisia, Iran, Niger and Quebec.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on many different plants, while adults are attracted to light, sugar and nectar-rich flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species produces one or two generations each year and spends the winter as a pupa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen from May through September, with a first flight in June-early July and a second generation from late July to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the Western Palearctic, parts of Africa and a region of North America (Quebec).
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The white W-shaped line also appears on some other noctuid moths, but those are usually larger.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 38 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Colorado, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Idaho, Texas, Arizona.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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/Nutmeg_%28moth%29
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.