Black Cutworm vs Cabbage Moth

Agrotis ipsilon compared with Plutella xylostella

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black Cutworm	Cabbage Moth
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Noctuidae	Plutellidae
Genus	Agrotis	Plutella
Species	Agrotis ipsilon	Plutella xylostella

Evolutionary Relationship

Black Cutworm and Cabbage Moth share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

Black Cutworm

LC — Least Concern

Cabbage Moth

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black Cutworm	Cabbage Moth
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black Cutworm

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (7 countries), Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Chile).

Cabbage Moth

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Palearctic realms.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (6 countries), Asia (Taiwan, United Arab Emirates), Europe (5 countries), North America (4 countries), and South America (Chile).

Black Cutworm

The Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is a species in the genus Agrotis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the. Widely distributed across Africa (7 countries), Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, United Stat...

Cabbage Moth

The Cabbage Moth (Plutella xylostella) is a species in the genus Plutella. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Palearctic realms.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 13 countries:

🇩🇿 Algeria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇱 Chile 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇺🇸 United States