Double Dart
Graphiphora augur
This record describes Graphiphora augur (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 35 to 42 mm. The markings may vary slightly but are usually sufficient to enable the species to be identified. It inhabits woodland, bushy places and grassy areas. Flies in a single generation during June and July. The larvae feed nocturnally on a number of trees and shrubs, including hawthorn and blackthorn. A locally widespread species over much of Britain, In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Graphiphora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits woodland, bushy places and grassy areas.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in a single generation during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed nocturnally on a number of trees and shrubs, including hawthorn and blackthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A locally widespread species over much of Britain, In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Graphiphora augur. 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 Double Dart (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Double Dart
What is Double Dart?
Double Dart (Graphiphora augur) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Double Dart found?
Habitat: It inhabits woodland, bushy places and grassy areas.
When is Double Dart active?
Double Dart: seasonal activity - Flies in a single generation during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Double Dart?
The larvae feed nocturnally on a number of trees and shrubs, including hawthorn and blackthorn.