Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1
Xestia dolosa
This record describes Xestia dolosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) In The Owlet Moths of Ohio, Roy Rings writes: The maculation of X. c-nigrum is identical to X. dolosa. The best way to separate the two species is by size. X. c-nigrum averages 6 mm (fore wing apex to apex) smaller than X. dolosa. Considered agricultural pest. Considered invasive in this country (from Europe). (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests. The Pattern of Invasion. American Entomologist. Spring 2002)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Xestia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern United States; Arizona; British Columbia and Alberta records. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larva feed on crop plants such as barley, clovers, corn, and tobacco. Also reported on apple and maples.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia dolosa. 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 Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , JohnMaxwell22 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1
What is Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1?
Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1 (Xestia dolosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1?
forewing length 18-24 mm
How do you identify Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) In The Owlet Moths of Ohio, Roy Rings writes: The maculation of X. c-nigrum is identical to X. dolosa. The best way to separate the two species is by size. X. c-nigrum averages 6 mm (fore wing apex to apex) smaller than X. dolosa.
Where is Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1 found?
Range: Eastern United States; Arizona; British Columbia and Alberta records. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group map
What does Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1 eat?
The diet of the Greater Black-letter Dart - Hodges#10942.1 includes The larva feed on crop plants such as barley, clovers, corn, and tobacco. Also reported on apple and maples..