Norman's Dart
Common NameNorman's Dart
Scientific NameActebia fennica
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsbrown, pale brown, dark brown
HabitatBoreal forests, taiga, open woodlands, clearings, heathlands
Geographic RangeHolarctic; northern Europe, Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, Japan, North America (Canada, northern US)
Host Plantsblueberry, willow, birch, clover, dandelion, various grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as an egg. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on various herbaceous plants and grasses. Pupation occurs in the soil during early summer, with adults emerging in late summer.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic mottled brown forewings with well-defined dark reniform and orbicular spots, often outlined in black. The wavy subterminal and postmedial lines are also distinctive.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled brown forewings, featuring prominent dark reniform and orbicular spots, and wavy dark transverse lines. The hindwings are typically paler.
