Voluble Dart
Common NameVoluble Dart
Scientific NameAgrotis volubilis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)36
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, dark brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeNorth America (southern Canada to Florida and Texas)
Host Plantsgrasses, clover, dandelion, plantain, corn, tobacco
Flight PeriodApril to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous cutworms, feeding on various herbaceous plants near the ground at night. They typically overwinter as pupae in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the reddish-brown head and thorax, the distinct dark reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots on the forewings, and the overall mottled brown coloration. Hindwings are usually pale.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with mottled brown and tan forewings, featuring prominent dark reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots. The head and thorax are often reddish-brown.
