Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661
Agrotis malefida
This record describes Agrotis malefida (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing brownish in male, gray to blackish in female; reniform spot large, dark; claviform spot short, wide, solid black; orbicular spot outlined in black, and keyhole-shaped (broadly oval basally, with elongate tail distally, often with black center in basal portion); PM line scalloped; outer margin with blackish wedge extending into subterminal area about one-third distance from costa. Hindwing gleaming white with thin brown terminal line and brown-lined veins. Larvae - dark gray above and below with two broad whitish or pale yellowish stripes along side, separated by dark line; two dark dots in middle of pale stripes on each segment. Rascal Dart is the name given to the adult in Covell's Guide to Moths of Eastern North America. ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Agrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Fields, gardens, croplands.
Geographic Range
Southern half of United States (stray in the northeast to New York) through Mexico and Central and South America to Argentina and Chile. ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on many wild and cultivated plants, including clover, corn, pea, tomato.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis malefida. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661
What is Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661?
Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 (Agrotis malefida) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661?
Forewing length 18-23 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009).
How do you identify Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661?
Adult - forewing brownish in male, gray to blackish in female; reniform spot large, dark; claviform spot short, wide, solid black; orbicular spot outlined in black, and keyhole-shaped (broadly oval basally, with elongate tail distally, often with black center in basal portion); PM line scalloped; outer margin with blackish wedge extending into subterminal area about one-third distance from costa. Hindwing gleaming white with thin brown terminal line and brown-lined veins. Larvae - dark gray above and below with two broad whitish or pale yellowish stripes along side, separated by dark line; two dark dots in middle of pale stripes on each segment.
Where is Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Fields, gardens, croplands. |
| Range | Southern half of United States (stray in the northeast to New York) through Mexico and Central and South America to Argentina and Chile. |
What does Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 eat?
The diet of the Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 includes Larvae feed on many wild and cultivated plants, including clover, corn, pea, tomato..
When is Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661 active?
Rascal Dart - Hodges#10661: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to October..