Sigma Dart
Common NameSigma Dart
Scientific NameEugraphe sigma
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, heathlands, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host PlantsRubus, Vaccinium, Calluna, Betula, Salix, Populus
Flight PeriodAugust to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae overwinter, feeding on various plants in spring before pupating in the soil. Adults emerge in late summer and autumn.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark, mottled forewings with a somewhat obscure, dark sigma-shaped mark in the reniform stigma, and uniformly grayish-brown hindwings.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled dark brown and black forewings, often with a reddish or ochreous tinge, providing excellent camouflage against bark or leaf litter.
