Garden Dart
Euxoa nigricans
This record describes Euxoa nigricans (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Occupies a range of habitats including gardens and waste ground. The adults fly in August and September, when they can be attracted to sugar as well as to light. The caterpillars feed on a range of herbaceous plants, including clover and plantain. The distribution of this moth covers most of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Euxoa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies a range of habitats including gardens and waste ground.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in August and September, when they can be attracted to sugar as well as to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars feed on a range of herbaceous plants, including clover and plantain.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The distribution of this moth covers most 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 Euxoa nigricans. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Dart
What is Garden Dart?
Garden Dart (Euxoa nigricans) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Garden Dart found?
Habitat: Occupies a range of habitats including gardens and waste ground.
When is Garden Dart active?
Garden Dart: seasonal activity - The adults fly in August and September, when they can be attracted to sugar as well as to light..
What is the life cycle of a Garden Dart?
The caterpillars feed on a range of herbaceous plants, including clover and plantain.