Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Nephelodes Members:	146 NC Records

Nephelodes minians Guenée, 1852 - Bronzed Cutworm Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Tholerini

P3 Number:
932810

MONA Number:
10524.00

Other Common Name:
Bronzed Turfworm

Comments: This is a New World genus with one species from Colombia and 5 from the United States and Canada. A single species reaches North Carolina.

Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina have been barcoded and fall into the range of variation seen across a broad geographical area of North America.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)

Adult Markings: This coppery-colored, large noctuid species is quite distinct and unlikely to be confused with any other species largely because of its size and color. Our populations have a dark colored form in addition to the normal reddish form. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 35-50 mm (Forbes, 1954)

Adult Structural Features: Both male and female genitalia are distinct and should help identify very worn specimens. The vesica is unarmed.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The larvae, known as the bronze cutworm, are spindle-shaped and live in tunnels under the ground, eating roots and shoots of grasses, occasionally becoming a pest. They have long middorsal and addorsal tan lines as well as a broad, tan stripe enclosing the spiracles. The adult is in flight in the fall, lays eggs which hatch either in the late Fall or early Spring and the larvae feed above ground until they reach later instars which then tunnel below the surface. The mature caterpillar pupates in late spring/early summer but does not emerge until the fall.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Found widely over the Mountains and Piedmont but Coastal Plain records are concentrated along the brownwater floodplain of the lower Roanoke

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The species is single brooded across the state but most prominent in the lower mountains and piedmont. The appearance of the adult is a sure sign that fall is about to come. In flight for about 6 weeks, sometimes the most common species in light traps this time of year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: We do not have any records from coastal dune grasslands or pine savannas; our sole Coastal Plain record comes, in fact, from somewhat disturbed ridges surrounded on all sides by swamp forest. In the Piedmont and Mountains, records come both upland and bottomland sites and include both old fields and forests.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are oligophagous, feeding on grasses, including turfgrass, cereal crops, corn, and native grasses (Wagner et al., 2011). Occasionally feeds on forbs or the new leaves of woody plants. - View

Observation Methods: Adults come readily to light, to bait and to flowers.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Most of our surveys have been conducted in natural areas, where this species is relatively frequent. However, it is likely to be far more widespread and numerous in pastures and other semi-natural grasslands, as well as in some corn fields and other croplands

Photo Gallery for Nephelodes minians - Bronzed Cutworm Moth

97 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-06 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-06 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-05 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-05 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-09-27 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-25 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-25 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2025-09-25 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-09-18 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-04 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-21 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-20 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-20 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-19 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-19 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-09-01 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-15 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-25 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-03-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-10-13 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2023-10-13 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-10-06 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-10-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-10-01 Graham Co. Comment: