Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...

ARMYWORMS, CUTWORMS, BUDWORMS & SEMI-LOOPERS
Lepidoptera: Noctuidae
Key noctuid characteristics and biology
Larvae
• have four pairs of abdominal prolegs;
• have anal prolegs;
• crochet (soles of prolegs) arrangement is a row on one
side (mesoseries);
• usually have a stripe on cervical shield;
• usually smooth, lacking obvious dense hairs;
• can vary widely in colour and this variation sometimes
depends on the food source. Larvae are often green,
brown or yellow in colour and striped longitudinally;
• mostly feed at night on a variety of crops.
Adults
• are generally dull coloured moths but some have
metallic-looking markings on their wings;
• generally have stout bodies covered in dense long
scales;
• feed on nectar from flowers;
• mainly fly at night.
Many species are able to migrate long distances aided
by wind currents. This enables them to exploit abundant
plant growth after rain.
Most fully mature noctuid larvae burrow into the soil
to pupate, although a few species pupate in a sparse
cocoon under a leaf of the host plant. Depending on
the species, pupation can take place over a short or long
time before moths emerge.
Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems Identification Manual and Education Resource © 2012
There are many noctuid species that lack some
abdominal prolegs and these are known as semiloopers.
They loop their bodies when moving and are
often mistaken for a ‘true’ looper (Geometridae family).
Semi-looper species are not covered in this manual.
4
Noctuidae larva
Anal
prolegs
Spiracle
SECTION 4 COMMON Pest, Beneficial and exotic Species
1st abdominal segment
Abdominal
prolegs
True legs
Body hair
Crochet (hook) arrangement
meso-series to one side.
Armyworms, cutworms and
budworms have this pattern
on the ‘soles of their feet’
Cervical shield
Cervical stripe
Head
Round dark coloured base
Source: Modified from Goodyer (1978)