Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Loxostege cereralis (Zeller, 1872) - Alfalfa Webworm Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: PyraustinaeP3 Number: 801496.00 MONA Number: 5017.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1976)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1981)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: In this species the forewing ground is medium brown with a series of darker brown and tan streaks and marks. There is a long black basal dash near the middle of the wing, with a pale shade above it. The orbicular is followed by a pale patch that is sometimes divided by a black dash that connects the orbicular and reniform spots. The middle portion of the postmedial line is expanded into basally directed wedges. The subterminal band is yellowish buff, sharply defined, and evenly tapered anteriorly and posteriorly. It is followed by a double terminal line. The hindwing tends to be uniformly brown with a whitish fringe, but sometimes has a faint, buff-colored, partial subterminal band.

Munroe (1976) noted that this species is often confused with L. commixtalis, but the former is a relatively large, night-flying species that is common in croplands, while L. commixtalis is a day-flying species that rarely strays far from its bog habitat. Size is helpful in sorting these out (forewing length = 10-12 mm for L. commixtalis and 13-16 mm for L. cereralis; Munroe, 1976).
Forewing Length: forewing 13-16 mm (Munroe, 1976).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1976) has descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Munroe (1976) noted that Loxostege cereralis has often been confused with L. munroealis (= L. sticticalis) by economic entomologists. It also has been referred to as L. commixtalis in older literature, which adds additional confusion to the life history information. According to Munroe (1976) this species has a life history that is very similar to that of L. munroealis. Both are polyphagous and agricultural pests. The larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, including many forage and truck crops, as well as agricultural weeds. They prefer broadleaf species such as alfalfa. The first two instars skeletonize leaves, while the later instars web together leaves and eat the foliage. The early stages are pale yellowish green, but later stages are grayish-brown and have a broad lighter band running down the back. The head is yellowish brown with scattered dark brown reticulations, and the prothoracic shield is yellowish brown with dark brown pigmentation laterally and medially from the anterior to posterior margin (Allyson, 1981).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Loxostege cereralis is a very wide-ranging species that is found in almost every state in the conterminous U.S. It also occurs throughout most of southern Canada from British Columbia eastward to Newfoundland. As of 2023, we have only two records from the Sandhills.
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
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed from February through November in different areas of the range, with May through September being the most active months. As of 2023, our two records are from May and October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is commonly found in agricultural fields and weedy habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Munroe (1976) noted that Loxostege cereralis has often been confused with L. munroealis (= L. sticticalis) by economic entomologists. It also has been referred to as L. commixtalis in older literature, which adds additional confusion to the host plant information. According to Munroe (1976) this species is polyphagous. The larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, including many forage and truck crops, as well as agricultural weeds. They prefer broadleaf species such as alfalfa. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae and webs are often conspicuous on cultivated crops.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S4
State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Loxostege cereralis - Alfalfa Webworm Moth

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-05-13
Moore Co.
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