Obelisk Dart
Common NameObelisk Dart
Scientific NameEuxoa obeliscata
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, cream, black
HabitatDry sandy areas, heathland, coastal dunes, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsCalluna vulgaris, Erica, Rumex, Plantago, Taraxacum, various grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, with eggs laid in late summer/autumn, overwintering as eggs or young larvae. Larvae feed in spring, pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic dark 'obelisk' or 'dagger' mark between the prominent reniform and orbicular spots on the forewings, set against a variegated brown and grey background.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptic brown and grey forewings, featuring prominent dark reniform and orbicular spots, and a distinctive dark, wedge-shaped 'obelisk' mark.
