Morrison's Sooty Dart
Common NameMorrison's Sooty Dart
Scientific NameEuxoa morrisoniana
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, gray, black, tan
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, grasslands, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America, from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba and south to Florida and Texas
Host Plantsgrasses, clover, dandelion, plantain, various garden vegetables
Flight PeriodAugust to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are cutworms, feeding on low-growing plants. They typically overwinter as partially grown larvae and pupate in the soil in spring, with adults emerging in late summer and fall.
Identification TipsKey features include the overall dark, sooty appearance, the distinct dark-filled and often pale-outlined reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots, and a dark basal dash on the forewings.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with dark grayish-brown to sooty black forewings featuring prominent, dark-filled reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots often outlined in a lighter shade.
