Willow Dart
Common NameWillow Dart
Scientific NameAgrotis ipsilon
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, grey
HabitatAgricultural fields, gardens, grasslands, open woodlands
Geographic RangeCosmopolitan (nearly worldwide)
Host Plantscorn, cotton, tobacco, alfalfa, various grasses, vegetable crops
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods, varies by region)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants, hatching into larvae known as cutworms, which feed on plant stems at or below the soil surface. Larvae pupate in the soil, emerging as adult moths.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic dark dagger-like claviform stigma on the forewings, along with the dark reniform and orbicular spots. The overall cryptic brown coloration helps it blend into its environment.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with mottled brown and dark brown forewings featuring distinct dark kidney-shaped (reniform) and circular (orbicular) spots, and a prominent dagger-like mark (claviform stigma). The hindwings are typically paler.
