Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943
Xestia normanianus
This record describes Xestia normanianus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing ground color light to medium gray or brown; black patches above orbicular spot, between reniform and orbicular spots, and along costa near apex; orbicular spot same color as ground color, oblique, oblong, and extending to costa; small black dots along AM line, as claviform spot, and on inner edge of reniform spot; AM and PM lines double, faint hindwing grayish-brown with faint discal spot and pale yellowish fringe This species was once named as variant A of Xestia triangulum , a very similar Eurasian species commonly called the Double Square-spot , but the name may have been misapplied, or may have been a misidentification. X. normaniana is apparently a North American species. See FUNET .
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
Habitat
shrubby meadows and wood edges where host plants grow
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Georgia, west through Kansas to Oregon, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late July to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of blueberry, cherry, meadowsweet, raspberry, sweet fern, and other plants
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia normanianus. 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 Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chris Grinter , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943
What is Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943?
Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 (Xestia normanianus) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943?
wingspan 35-41 mm
How do you identify Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943?
forewing ground color light to medium gray or brown; black patches above orbicular spot, between reniform and orbicular spots, and along costa near apex; orbicular spot same color as ground color, oblique, oblong, and extending to costa; small black dots along AM line, as claviform spot, and on inner edge of reniform spot; AM and PM lines double, faint hindwing grayish-brown with faint discal spot and pale yellowish fringe
Where is Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | shrubby meadows and wood edges where host plants grow |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Georgia, west through Kansas to Oregon, north to Alberta |
What does Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 eat?
The diet of the Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 includes larvae feed on leaves of blueberry, cherry, meadowsweet, raspberry, sweet fern, and other plants.
When is Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943 active?
Norman's Dart - Hodges#10943: seasonal activity - adults fly from late July to October.