Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Spodoptera Members: 122 NC Records

Spodoptera dolichos (Fabricius, 1794) - Dolichos Armyworm Moth

Spodoptera dolichosSpodoptera dolichosSpodoptera dolichosSpodoptera dolichos
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Noctuinae		Tribe:
Prodeniini		P3 Number:
932221		 MONA Number:
9671.00		 Other Common Names:
Sweetpotato Armyworm Moth, Sweet Potato Armyworm Moth
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This strongly patterned species is similar to S. ornithogalli but is larger and has a conspicuous black bar on the collar and a black stripe running along the sides of the thorax and another curved black line on the inner side of the tegulae, which are otherwise buff or off-white. A white bar projects obliquely forward from the medial side of the reniform that Forbes (1954) considered diagnostic, but there can be a small projection at this location in ornithogalli as well. A dorsal buff-colored line runs from the thorax down along the inner margin.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Spodoptera dolichosAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner et al. (2011) list croplands, waste places, and other open areas as habitats used by this species. Our records come mainly from barrier islands, coastal savannas, and sand ridges. Away from the Coastal Plain, habitats include residential areas and mountain forests. At least some of these records probably represent strays or migrants.
Larval Host Plants: Like other members of this genus, this species is polyphagous on herbaceous plants, including many crop species. Wagner et al. (2011) specifically list asparagus, turnip, strawberry, cotton, sweet potato, tobacco, potato, clover, and corn. In North Carolina, we have feeding records for Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), Yellow Crownbeard (V. occidentalis), and violet (Viola). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Fields, Gardens, and Ruderal 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:

 Photo Gallery for Spodoptera dolichos - Dolichos Armyworm Moth

 108 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-12
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30
Wake Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-18
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-11-02
Orange Co.
Comment: Reared from a larva found on 9/14.		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-31
Madison Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-31
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-15
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-13
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-24
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-21
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-21
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: David George on 2024-09-15
Orange Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-14
Orange Co.
Comment: A larva feeding on a Viola sp. (adult reared).		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-14
Orange Co.
Comment: A larva feeding on a Viola sp. (adult reared).
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-10
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: David George on 2024-09-10
Orange Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-08
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-01
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-01
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-01
Durham Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-31
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-08-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-15
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichosRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-12
Orange Co.
Comment: