Beech Bark Canker vs Clover Cutworm

Neonectria faginata compared with Anarta trifolii

Key Differences

Beech Bark Canker is Not Evaluated while Clover Cutworm is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Beech Bark Canker	Clover Cutworm
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Hypocreales (Hypocreales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Nectriaceae	Noctuidae
Genus	Neonectria	Anarta
Species	Neonectria faginata	Anarta trifolii

Conservation Status

Beech Bark Canker

NE — Not Evaluated

Clover Cutworm

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Beech Bark Canker	Clover Cutworm
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Beech Bark Canker

Habitat

Native to North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in United States.

Clover Cutworm

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cabo Verde), Asia (Yemen), Europe (4 countries), and North America (Canada, United States).

Beech Bark Canker

The Beech Bark Canker (Neonectria faginata) is a species in the genus Neonectria. Native to North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region. The species is documented in scientific literature under the name Neonectria faginata.

Clover Cutworm

The clover cutworm (Anarta trifolii) is a noctuid moth in the family Noctuidae, order Lepidoptera, with a wide distribution spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. The species has a characteristic cutworm larva that severs plant stems near the soil surface or feeds on leaves and developing seeds, causing significant damage to crops. Primary host plants include clover (Trifolium), alfalfa, beet, and various other broadleaf crops and weeds, making A. trifolii an agricultural pest of moderate to significant importance in affected regions. Adults are brownish-grey moths with subtle wing patterns typical of the noctuidae family, and like most noctuids, they are nocturnal and attracted to light sources. The species is highly mobile, with adults capable of long-distance migration that enables rapid colonization of new agricultural areas. A. trifolii inhabits a broad range of open habitats including agricultural fields, meadows, steppes, and disturbed grasslands across its extensive range. Its polyphagous larval diet and migratory adult behavior contribute to its wide geographic range spanning multiple continents. In Europe, it is found from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia; in North America it occurs in both Canada and the United States. A. trifolii is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with populations considered stable and the species benefiting from the widespread availability of agricultural host plants. Natural enemies include parasitoid wasps and tachinid flies, along with pathogens including nuclear polyhedrosis viruses used in biological control.