Clover Cutworm vs Common Field Grasshopper

Anarta trifolii compared with Chorthippus brunneus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clover Cutworm	Common Field Grasshopper
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Orthoptera (Orthoptera)
Family	Noctuidae	Acrididae
Genus	Anarta	Chorthippus
Species	Anarta trifolii	Chorthippus brunneus

Evolutionary Relationship

Clover Cutworm and Common Field Grasshopper share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Clover Cutworm

LC — Least Concern

Common Field Grasshopper

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clover Cutworm	Common Field Grasshopper
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).

Common Field Grasshopper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Common Field Grasshopper

The Common Field Grasshopper (<em>Chorthippus brunneus</em>) is an orthopteran insect belonging to the genus Chorthippus within the family Acrididae. It is one of the most frequently encountered grasshoppers in northern and western Europe, typically inhabiting dry, open areas such as grasslands, heathlands, roadsides, and disturbed ground. The species is often found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats across its range. Geographically, <em>Chorthippus brunneus</em> is distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden, among other European countries. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Adults are typically brown to grey in colouration with variable patterning, and males often produce a distinctive short, chirping song used in courtship. As a herbivore, this grasshopper typically feeds on grasses and other low-growing vegetation. Biological traits including average lifespan and body dimensions remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, though adults in temperate regions typically appear from mid-summer through autumn.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden