Garden Dart
Common NameGarden Dart
Scientific NameEuxoa nigricans
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, dark brown
HabitatGardens, cultivated land, grasslands, open fields
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia, North Africa
Host Plantsvarious herbaceous plants, grasses, root crops (e.g., potato, beet)
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe Garden Dart overwinters as a larva, which feeds on the roots and lower stems of various low-growing plants. Pupation occurs in the soil in spring, with adult moths emerging in mid to late summer.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled dark brown and grey forewings with clearly defined, often dark-outlined orbicular and reniform stigmata. It can be distinguished from similar *Euxoa* species by the specific shape and clarity of these markings and the overall wing coloration.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with mottled dark brown and grey forewings, featuring distinct orbicular and reniform stigmata outlined in darker brown, and a hairy thorax.
