Bug FAQGlassy Cutworm Moth
Apamea devastator · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Glassy Cutworm
Source: Wikipedia
The glassy cutworm moth has a wingspan of about 35 to 40 mm. Adults are on the wing from May through September, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Apamea devastator, known as the glassy cutworm, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 35 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars (cutworms) eat a variety of grasses. They live underground and chew on the roots and lower stems of their host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly from May to September, with exact timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Their flight period spans the late spring through early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to northeastern North America, including the same regions listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Minnesota, Idaho.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae of the glassy cutworm eat?
The larvae feed on various grasses, attacking the roots and basal stems underground.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult glassy cutworm moths active?
Adults are active from May through September, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apamea_devastator
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.