The Green Cloverworm has a wingspan of 1 to 1.25 inches. The male is usually larger than the female. The forewing is narrow and brown to grayish. The color and pattern vary considerably. The median line is slightly wavy with an outward bulge near the costa. The hindwing is broad about two times the width of the forewing and uniformly brown with darker veins. The last instar of the larva is lime green with prominent yellow and dark green spiracular stripes. The head is shiny green. The anal prolegs are green and long and flared out behind the body. The caterpillar grows to approximately 1.25 inches long.
This is a common moth especially in late summer and fall. The adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Common larval food plants include alfalfa, clover, ragweed, strawberry, false indigo, locust, elm, cherry and willow. The adult moth is a migrant that recolonizes the northern portion of its range every summer. The adult overwinters as far north as Missouri.
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