# Bristly Cutworm Moth

*Lacinipolia renigera*

The larvae are covered in tiny, stiff microspines that give them a 'bristly' texture and protect them from soil predators.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Noctuidae › Lacinipolia
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Meadows, grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens, and open woodlands.
- **Diet:** Larvae feed on herbaceous plants like clovers, dandelions, and grasses; adults drink flower nectar.
- **Range:** North America, United States, Canada, Mexico
- **Size:** Wingspan of 20 to 30 mm
- **Lifespan:** 1 year (adults live 1-2 weeks)
- **Active:** nocturnal
- **Threats:** Pesticide use, light pollution, and habitat fragmentation.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. If you encounter this moth or its caterpillar, it is safe to observe from any distance. They do not bite, sting, or possess irritating hairs. If handled, gently nudge them onto a leaf.

## About

The Kidney-spotted Minor or Bristly Cutworm ( Lacinipolia renigera ) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is endemic to most of North America with the exception of Yukon and Alaska.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/1ba6c358-5354-41fa-b690-7a5cc8a3e949
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/81657
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacinipolia renigera
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/5309752/medium.jpeg (Nick Block, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.