The Bristly Cutworm Moth is a medium-sized noctuid with mottled gray-and-brown forewings bearing the typical reniform and orbicular spots of the family. Its caterpillar is a bristly-spined cutworm that cuts off young seedlings at the soil line — a behavior shared across many noctuid 'dart' moths. Adults are common at lights in late summer.
Best time to see a Bristly Cutworm Moth
The best time to see a Bristly Cutworm Moth is May–August, when about 71% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 13,879 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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