Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Spodoptera Members: 137 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 Hanover 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

 125 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-11-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-11-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-10-22
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-10-18
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Marilyn Westph@ret.unca.edu on 2025-10-18
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-13
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: G. Newman on 2025-10-12
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-10-09
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-10-08
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-01
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-09-25
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-21
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-23
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-08-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-11
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-12
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-06-30
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-18
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-11-02
Orange Co.
Comment: Reared from a larva found on 9/14.
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-31
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-31
Madison Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-10-13
Orange Co.
Comment:
Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-05
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Spodoptera dolichos
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-24
Durham Co.
Comment: