Common NameAlfalfa WebwormSeasonalityLate May to early September.IdentificationGround color brownish gray. Forewing with veins expanded towards the yellowish buff ST band. There is a faint, yellowish buff ST line on the hindwings. Wingspan 30-34 mm. The genitalia were described by Munroe (1976). Somewhat similar to Loxostege commixtalis but browner, larger, and with FW veins more expanded towards the ST band. Munroe (1976) comments that the "male and female genitalia are not greatly different from those of commixtalis, except blunt cornutus of male generally larger and more broadly spatulate at tip; female with shorter ostial chamber and longer and more pronounced constriction".
Scientific NameLoxostege cereralisCommon Name
Alfalfa Webworm
Habitat
Prairies, aspen parkland and south-facing, open slopes.
Seasonality
Late May to early September.
Identification
Ground color brownish gray. Forewing with veins expanded towards the yellowish buff ST band. There is a faint, yellowish buff ST line on the hindwings. Wingspan 30-34 mm. The genitalia were described by Munroe (1976).…
Ground color brownish gray. Forewing with veins expanded towards the yellowish buff ST band. There is a faint, yellowish buff ST line on the hindwings. Wingspan 30-34 mm. The genitalia were described by Munroe (1976). Somewhat similar to Loxostege commixtalis but browner, larger, and with FW veins more expanded towards the ST band. Munroe (1976) comments that the "male and female genitalia are not greatly different from those of commixtalis, except blunt cornutus of male generally larger and more broadly spatulate at tip; female with shorter ostial chamber and longer and more pronounced constriction".
Life History
Described by Allyson (1976). Much like that of Loxostege sticticalis (Munroe 1976). Mainly night-flying.
Diet Info
Range of foodplants similar to that of Loxostege sticticalis (Munroe 1976).
Range
Quebec to British Columbia, south to Mexico in the west (Munroe 1976). Type Locality Texas. Not reported from Alberta by Bowman (1951) but the illustrated specimen, collected by Bowman in 1922 was misidentified as L.…
Quebec to British Columbia, south to Mexico in the west (Munroe 1976). Type Locality Texas. Not reported from Alberta by Bowman (1951) but the illustrated specimen, collected by Bowman in 1922 was misidentified as L. commixtalis; and Banff, Jasper and Nordegg material collected by Bowman, also in UASM were also misidentified as commixtalis. Known from Alberta from Bindloss, Buffalo Lake Conservation Area, Caribou Mountains, East Arrowwood Coulee, Lowden Springs Conservation Area, Lost River, Red Deer, Olds, Tolman Bridge and Wabasca.
Citation
Page Citation for Loxostege cereralis
Page Citation
"Species Details - Loxostege cereralis, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6313. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 24 specimens of this Species.
24 results plotted on map in 8 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.