Bug FAQYellow-headed Cutworm Moth and Allies
Apamea amputatrix · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Yellow-headed Cutworm, Yellow-headed Cutworm Moth, Yellowheaded Cutworm
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 40 mm. They are active from April through October, depending on where you are. They occur across most of North America, reaching up into the Arctic.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The moth flies from April to October, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan is roughly 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout most of North America, extending north to the Arctic.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars eat a wide variety of host plants, including vegetable crops.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are active from April to October, varying with region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers most of North America, up to the Arctic region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Vermont, California, Wyoming.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae damage?
The larvae feed on many host plants, especially vegetable crops, so they can harm garden vegetables.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see these moths?
Adults are flying from April through October, depending on where you live.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are they found?
They occur across most of North America, reaching up into the Arctic.
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/Apamea_amputatrix
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.