Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664
Feltia subterranea
This record describes Feltia subterranea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish to medium brown with blackish shading heavier in female than in male; black bar extending from orbicular to reniform spot is distinctive feature; large dark patch along costa near apex, and usually a smaller patch part-way along outer margin; hindwing translucent glistening white in male; shaded with gray in female. Larva: head pale brown; body dark brown to gray with pale longitudinal stripes; skin surface covered with small black conical granules. Common to abundant in the south. Larvae cause damage by cutting off small plants near ground level.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Feltia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Cultivated land, lawns and gardens.
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to California, north to South Dakota. Also occurs in Europe, and through Central and South America, south to Chile. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly year round in the south; reduced flight season in the north.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on more than 60 plants of economic importance, including alfalfa, bean, beet, cabbage, cauliflower, clover, corn, cotton, eggplant, lettuce, peanut, pea, pepper, potato, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, turnip, wheat.
Life History
Life cycle can be viewed at North Carolina State University
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Feltia subterranea. 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 Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664
What is Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664?
Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 (Feltia subterranea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664?
Wingspan 32-45 mm. Larva length to 38 mm.
How do you identify Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664?
Adult: forewing yellowish to medium brown with blackish shading heavier in female than in male; black bar extending from orbicular to reniform spot is distinctive feature; large dark patch along costa near apex, and usually a smaller patch part-way along outer margin; hindwing translucent glistening white in male; shaded with gray in female. Larva: head pale brown; body dark brown to gray with pale longitudinal stripes; skin surface covered with small black conical granules.
Where is Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Cultivated land, lawns and gardens. |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Florida, west to California, north to South Dakota. Also occurs in Europe, and through Central and South America, south to Chile. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 eat?
The diet of the Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 includes Larvae feed on more than 60 plants of economic importance, including alfalfa, bean, beet, cabbage, cauliflower, clover, corn, cotton, eggplant, lettuce, peanut, pea, pepper, potato, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, turnip, wheat..
When is Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664 active?
Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664: seasonal activity - Adults fly year round in the south; reduced flight season in the north..
What is the life cycle of a Subterranean Dart - Hodges#10664?
Life cycle can be viewed at North Carolina State University