About Autographa californica Speyer, 1875
Autographa californica, commonly known as the alfalfa looper, is a moth species belonging to the family Noctuidae. This species was first formally described by Adolph Speyer in 1875. Its distribution spans western North America, ranging from southern British Columbia south to Baja California, and east to Manitoba, South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico. The wingspan of adult moths measures 36–42 mm. Depending on location, adult moths are active in flight from July to October. The larvae of this species feed on a very broad selection of plants. Recorded food plants include species from the following plant families: Apiaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Grossulariaceae, Liliaceae, Lamiaceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae, Podocarpaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae, and Verbenaceae, as well as plants from the genus Eschscholzia.
