Black Cutworm vs Blue Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Cutworm | Blue Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Agrotis ipsilon | Lasaia sula |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Noctuidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 40-55 mm wingspan | 18-22 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Indoors | Forests |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Worldwide | South Texas, Mexico, Central America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Black Cutworm
A dull brown moth whose soil-dwelling caterpillars sever young seedlings at ground level during the night. It is a cosmopolitan pest that migrates long distances.
Did You Know?
Cutworm caterpillars curl into a C-shape when disturbed, a diagnostic behavior for identifying them in soil.
Blue Metalmark
A tiny butterfly with vivid metallic blue upper wings that flash brilliantly in sunlight. It perches on rocks and gravel near streams in tropical forests.
Did You Know?
Its brilliant blue iridescence is structural rather than pigmented, produced by nanoscale lattice structures in the wing scales.