Archer's Dart
Common NameArcher's Dart
Scientific NameAgrotis vestigialis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, black, ochre
HabitatCoastal dunes, sandy heaths, dry grasslands
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia (e.g., British Isles, Scandinavia, Western Europe)
Host PlantsGalium, Plantago, Rumex, Trifolium, various grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on the roots and lower stems of various herbaceous plants and grasses. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in the soil in spring.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive dark, elongated, dart-shaped claviform stigma on the forewing, along with the pale, wavy subterminal line and often a darker median fascia.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings, typically grey-brown with prominent dark dart-shaped markings and a pale, wavy subterminal line.
