Clover Cutworm vs Collared Owlet

Anarta trifolii compared with Glaucidium brodiei

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clover Cutworm	Collared Owlet
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Strigiformes (Owls)
Family	Noctuidae	Strigidae (True Owls)
Genus	Anarta	Glaucidium
Species	Anarta trifolii	Glaucidium brodiei

Evolutionary Relationship

Clover Cutworm and Collared Owlet share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Clover Cutworm

LC — Least Concern

Collared Owlet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clover Cutworm	Collared Owlet
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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).

Collared Owlet

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway.

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.

Collared Owlet

The Collared Owlet, known scientifically as <em>Glaucidium brodiei</em>, is a small owl belonging to the family Strigidae. As one of the smallest owls in its range, <em>Glaucidium brodiei</em> is characterised by its compact body, rounded head without ear tufts, and distinctive false eyespots — dark patches on the back of the head that may serve as a deterrent against predators. The species typically inhabits montane and submontane forests, where it hunts insects, small birds, and other small vertebrates. It is reported to occur in Norway according to available range data. Collared Owlets are largely diurnal or crepuscular in behaviour, often calling from exposed perches. Detailed biological traits including typical lifespan, body length, and weight are poorly documented for this species in available literature. The Collared Owlet is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway