Insect · GBIF taxon 5109881
Sweet Potato Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera dolichosAlso known as Dolichos Armyworm Moth, Sweetpotato Armyworm Moth
Sweet potato armyworm moths feature intricate brown and cream wing patterns that provide camouflage against tree bark during daylight hours. Their caterpillars feed in swarms on broadleaf plants, earning their armyworm moniker through heavy feeding on agricultural crops. Adults take flight at dusk, frequently visiting outdoor lights and nectar-rich blossoms.
NocturnalMothAgricultural
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sweet potato leaves
- Legume foliage
- Solanaceous crops
Predators
- Bats
- Insectivorous birds
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsPesticide application, severe winter freezes
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, pastures, open woodlands
Life span30–50 days (egg to adult)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNoctuidae
- GenusSpodoptera
- SpeciesSpodoptera dolichos
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Look for adult moths near porch lights and building illumination on warm summer nights.
- Garden Check: Examine the undersides of host plant leaves for fuzzy egg masses or feeding larvae.
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative (c) Peter Waycik, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Peter Waycik · cc-by
Close Relative (c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by portioid · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Sweet Potato Armyworm Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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