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Australian Wildlife

  Brown cutworm (Agrotis munda)





Brown cutworm | Agrotis munda photo
Agrotis munda - adult moth of the brown cutworm

Image by Donald Hobern - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Brown cutworm | Agrotis munda photo
Agrotis munda

Image by Donald Hobern - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Brown cutworm | Agrotis munda photo
Agrotis munda

Image by Donald Hobern - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







BROWN CUTWORM FACTS

Identification
The adult moth of the Brown Cutworm is a brown and grey with variable pattern. There is usually a silvery grey elongated oval on the forewings with a larger round darker marking below it. It is similar in appearance to the Bogong Moth which is a more even brown colour and has two pale oval forewing markings of similar colour. The caterpillars start of pale and darken as they develop becoming dark brown before they pupate in the soil. Caterpillars with a pink tinge are known as pink cutworm.

Other Names
Pink cutworm

Size
wingspan about 5cm. Caterpillar to 5cm

Food
The Brown cutworm caterpillar feds on a variety of plants. It is a pest of agricultural crops such as cereals, tobacco, cotton, maize and sweet corn. The caterpillar feeds at night and shelters during the day in the soil at the base of the food plant.

Range
found throughout most of Australia.



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Noctuidae
Genus:Agrotis
Species:munda
Common Name:Brown cutworm

Relatives in same Genus
  Bogong moth (A. infusa)