Bug FAQTurnip Moth
Agrotis segetum · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The turnip moth has a wingspan of about 32 to 42 mm and its fore-wings vary from pale buff to almost black with brownish or reddish tones and distinct dark markings. It is common across Europe, Africa and most of Eurasia, lives in open habitats, and overwinters as a caterpillar. In the British Isles it produces two generations each year, with adults flying in late spring and again in late summer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Fore-wings are brownish, sometimes reddish, with darker streaks, black-outlined spots and a faint subterminal line.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 32 to 42 mm. Another source gives a range of 33 to 41 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Cultural methods like fallowing or ploughing fields during the dry season can reduce larval numbers. Bait sprays made from sweetened bran have shown some success.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is a common European species also found in Africa and across Eurasia, except the far north.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults are nocturnal, attracted to light, and feed on nectar-rich flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species overwinters as a caterpillar.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Two broods are produced each year, with adults on the wing in May-June and again in August-September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The turnip moth is common throughout Europe, Africa and most of Eurasia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be hard to separate from its close relatives, especially Agrotis clavis and Agrotis exclamationis.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 4 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New Hampshire, Utah, Washington, Colorado.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify a turnip moth?
Look for a wingspan around 33 to 42 mm and fore-wings that range from pale buff to dark brown or black with distinct dark spots and lines.
Source: Wikipedia
When are turnip moths active?
In the British Isles they appear in two waves: late spring (May-June) and late summer (August-September).
Source: Wikipedia
What habitats does the turnip moth prefer?
It is common in Europe, Africa and most of Eurasia, living in open habitats and overwintering as caterpillars.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I control turnip moth infestations?
Fallowing or ploughing fields during dry periods can starve larvae, and sweetened-bran baits have had some success.
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/Turnip_moth
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.