Bug FAQVelvet Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera latifascia · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The velvet armyworm moth has a wingspan of about 42 mm. Adults fly from March through October, depending on location. It occurs from Central America and the Antilles up into the southern United States, from Texas to Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan is about 42 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes Central America, the Antilles, and the southern United States from Texas to Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 12 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult velvet armyworm moths active?
Adults are on wing from March through October, depending on where they 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/Spodoptera_latifascia
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.