Heart & Dart
Agrotis exclamationis
This record describes Agrotis exclamationis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-40 mm. One distinctive feature of this species is that it always has a black band across the front of the thorax, when viewed head-on. Main flight period is from May to July, with numbers decreasing later in the season although individuals may turn up into October. It is readily attracted to light. Various wild and garden plants make up the foodplants of the larvae. It is a common often abundant species throughout most of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Agrotis exclamationis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrotis exclamationis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Cutworm Moths and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Agrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
All types of habitat.
Seasonal Activity
Main flight period is from May to July, with numbers decreasing later in the season although individuals may turn up into October. It is readily attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Various wild and garden plants make up the foodplants of the larvae.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is a common often abundant species throughout 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 Agrotis exclamationis. 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 Heart & Dart (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Heart & Dart
What is Heart & Dart?
Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Heart & Dart found?
Habitat: All types of habitat.
When is Heart & Dart active?
Heart & Dart: seasonal activity - Main flight period is from May to July, with numbers decreasing later in the season although individuals may turn up into October. It is readily attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Heart & Dart?
Various wild and garden plants make up the foodplants of the larvae.