Knee-joint Dart
Common NameKnee-joint Dart
Scientific NameAgrotis bigramma
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, black, white
HabitatOpen grasslands, cultivated fields, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia; migrant to Northern Europe
Host Plantsgrasses, various herbaceous plants, agricultural crops
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous cutworms, feeding nocturnally on the roots and lower stems of various herbaceous plants and grasses, pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for its relatively large size for an Agrotis species, the distinctive dark kidney-shaped and round spots on the forewings, and the overall mottled grey-brown coloration. Hindwings are typically pale with darker venation.
Description
A robust, medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings in mottled shades of grey and brown, featuring prominent dark reniform and orbicular spots and a pale, wavy subterminal line.
