Nutmeg Moth Anarta trifolii

This nocturnal moth earned its second common name—clover cutworm—because its caterpillars are formidable agricultural pests. The larvae cut through plant stems right at ground level, devastating clover crops and garden plantings with ruthless efficiency.

Though the adults are modest-looking gray-brown moths, their impact on agriculture is anything but small. They're a moth that farmers definitely notice, and not in a good way. The family Noctuidae is full of pest species, and this one is a classic example of how small insects can cause major economic damage.