Bug FAQWell-marked Cutworm Moth
Abagrotis orbis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Source: Wikipedia
The well-marked cutworm moth has a wingspan of about 35 to 40 mm. It lives in the southwestern United States and Canada, extending east across the plains and into dune habitats near the southern Great Lakes. Its caterpillars are orchard pests because they eat the flowers of fruit trees such as apples, peaches, and cherries.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of 35 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The larvae are regarded as pests in orchards because they damage fruit-tree flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in southwestern North America, across the plains, and in dune habitats of the southern Great Lakes region.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Recorded host plants include apple, peach, black cherry, boxelder maple, and grape vines.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In Alberta, adults are active from August to September and produce one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing in August and September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to southwestern North America and the central plains of the United States. A separate population lives in dune habitats near the southern Great Lakes. Its Canadian range is limited to southern interior British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 18 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.
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
How can I protect my orchard from this moth?
Monitor for adult moths in August-September and manage larvae that feed on fruit-tree flowers, as they are known orchard pests.
Source: Wikipedia
When are the adults active?
Adults are on the wing from August through September, producing a single generation in places like Alberta.
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/Abagrotis_orbis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.