Species Eueretagrotis attentus - Attentive Dart - Hodges#11009

11009

specific epithet often spelled "attenta"

one of three species in this genus in North America

forewing length 14-17 mm; wingspan about 30-35 mm

Adult: forewing reddish-brown with variable amounts of white scaling along costa from base to reniform spot; prominent black basal dash is diagnostic; orbicular and reniform spots variable from ground color with a few white spots to mostly white and outlined in black; AM and PM lines white with darker shading; ST line white; hindwing white with discal spot and thin dark terminal line

[adapted from description by Michael Pogue]

Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan and adjacent northern states, south in the Appalachians to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee) plus one record from northern Georgia

locally common in peaty coniferous forests and damp mixed woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from June to August

Handfield notes that larvae feed mainly on leaves of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and willow (Salix spp.); other hosts include Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), elderberry (Sambucus spp.), and strawberry (Fragaria spp.)

one generation per year

Two-spot Dart (E. perattentus) and Sigmoid Dart (E. sigmoides) have a black patch on forewing between orbicular and reniform spot.

Handfield, Louis. 1999. Les Guides des Papillons du Quebec. Broquet. 662 pp. [text, page 455; pinned adult male image on plate 118]

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)