Mythimna separata

Mythimna separata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Mythimna
Species:	M. separata
Binomial name
Mythimna separata Walker, 1865
Synonyms
Leucania separata Mythimna (Pseudaletia) separate Leucania consimilis

The Northern armyworm, Oriental armyworm or Rice ear-cutting caterpillar (Mythimna separata) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in China, Japan, Taiwan, South-east Asia, India, Eastern Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific Islands. They term “Armyworm” is used because of their habit to spread out in a line across a lawn or pasture, and slowly “marching” forward, meanwhile consuming the foliage they encounter.

Caterpillar

The wingspan is 35-50 mm. The moth flies from January to April depending on the location.

The larvae feed on a range of agricultural plants like Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor and Oryza sativa and are thus considered a pest.

External links

• Northern armyworm at HortFACT
• Species info
• uniprot