White-line Dart
Euxoa tritici
This record describes Euxoa tritici (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Good photographs required. It is advisable to retain the specimen until identification is confirmed as this species is quite scarce in our area. A species of heathland, moorland and sandy areas. Flight period is July and August sometimes into September. The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants. Fairly widespread in Britain it can be common in some areas, especially near the coast, but can be quite local elsewhere. 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
A species of heathland, moorland and sandy areas.
Seasonal Activity
Flight period is July and August sometimes into September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly widespread in Britain it can be common in some areas, especially near the coast, but can be quite local elsewhere.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa tritici. 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 White-line Dart
What is White-line Dart?
White-line Dart (Euxoa tritici) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is White-line Dart found?
Habitat: A species of heathland, moorland and sandy areas.
When is White-line Dart active?
White-line Dart: seasonal activity - Flight period is July and August sometimes into September..
What is the life cycle of a White-line Dart?
The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants.