Cutworms, Armyworms, and Kin(Family Noctuidae)

From Bugwoodwiki

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

The caterpillars of this family, the largest in the order, display great diversity in their structure and life history; a single characteristic cannot be used to identify them. Most are smooth, green, gray or brown caterpillars that lack protuberances and tufts of hairs. Notable exceptions are caterpillars in the genus Acronicta, which have tufts of long hairs. Most noctuid caterpillars have single pairs of prolegs on A3 to A6 and A10; a few lack prolegs on A3, A4, or both. Sometimes certain prolegs are reduced in size. The crochets on prolegs tend to be arranged in a linear series. Most are medium-sized caterpillars between 20 and 40 mm in length at maturity.

Noctuid caterpillars eat grasses, herbs, shrubs, broad-leaved and coniferous trees, and decaying material. Some bore into the stems or the roots of grasses and other herbaceous plants. Many of the leading crop pests of the world belong to this diverse family, but no species is a significant pest of forests in eastern North America.

The moths typically are gray or brown, but those of some groups are brightly colored. Many have a kidney-shaped spot on their forewings. The adults vary in size from minute to enormous. Most can be attracted to lights or bait.