Beet armyworm

Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

(Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Adult moths have a wingspan of approximately 25 to 30 mm. The forewings are mottled gray and brown with indistinct lines, and the hindwings are white. Larvae are pale green or yellow and acquire pale stripes during the third instar. As the larvae mature, they become darker green dorsally with mottled pink or yellow ventrally and a white stripe laterally. They often have a small, black spot above the second pair of the true legs.

The life cycle can be completed in approximately 24 days, and there are several generations per year.

The beet armyworm is native to Southeast Asia and was first reported in Florida in 1924.

The larvae consume both foliage and fruit. The beet armyworm has a broad host range including but not limited to members of the Brassicaceae, Solanaceae and Fabaceae.

Images 
To save the Web-optimized images shown below to your hard drive:

PC users: right click to "Save Picture (or Image) As..."

Mac users: click and drag to your desktop.

Adult moth of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), with spread wings

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Adult moth of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Lateral view of a larva of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Dorsal view of a larva of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Light and dark color morphs of larvae of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)

(Photographer: James Castner, University of Florida)