Beet Armyworm Moth

Spodoptera exigua

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia β€ΊPhylum: Arthropoda β€ΊClass: Insecta β€ΊOrder: Lepidoptera β€ΊFamily: Noctuidae β€ΊGenus: Spodoptera

About

The beet armyworm or small mottled willow moth (Spodoptera exigua) is one of the best-known agricultural pest insects. It is also known as the asparagus fern caterpillar. It is native to Asia, but has been introduced worldwide and is now found almost anywhere its many host crops are grown. The voracious larvae are the main culprits. In the British Isles, where it is an introduced species and not known to breed, the adult moth is known...