Flame-shouldered Dart
Common NameFlame-shouldered Dart
Scientific NameOchropleura plecta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsbrown, black, tan, reddish-brown
HabitatGardens, woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands, heathland, various open habitats
Geographic RangeWidespread across the Palearctic region (Europe, Asia, North Africa) and parts of North America
Host Plantsdock, dandelion, plantain, clover, nettle, various grasses
Flight PeriodMay to October (bivoltine or trivoltine)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on various low-growing herbaceous plants. The species typically overwinters as a pupa, sometimes as a larva, with adults being nocturnal.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive pale yellowish streak along the forewing's leading edge (costa) and the two dark, often pale-ringed, stigmata. The reddish-brown 'shoulder' marking on the thorax and wing base is also a useful, though variable, diagnostic.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with reddish-brown to dark brown forewings, featuring a prominent pale yellowish streak along the costa and two distinct dark spots (reniform and orbicular stigmata). The thorax often displays a reddish-brown 'flame' marking.
