Species Euxoa silens - Silent Dart - Hodges#10751

10751

described in 1875 by Grote, who originally placed it in genus Agrotis

silens: a Latin word derived from "silere" (to be silent); this is the origin of the suggested common name Silent Dart but I don't know what it refers to

wingspan 37-41 mm

Adult: forewing light grayish-brown with paler costa; usually has thin black basal streak expanding into poorly defined dark median streak incorporating claviform spot and running through orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular spot small, oval; reniform spot kidney-shaped; both spots filled with contrasting pale scales except for lower part of reniform; transverse lines missing; darker shading extends short distance outward from top and bottom of reniform spot - but not from middle of reniform spot; series of small sagitate (arrowhead-shaped) dashes between veins near outer margin; hindwing white with smoky brown scales along outer end of veins and along outer margin, more extensive in females; a rare gray unstreaked form also occurs

[adapted from description at U. of Alberta]

British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona, east to Colorado; the type specimen was collected in Nevada

dry grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from late April to July in California

unknown

Euxoa clausa forewing has larger and more oblong orbicular spot, lower end of reniform spot not filled with dark scales, and species is restricted to northern great plains (doesn't occur in southwestern states)

E. costata, castanea, idahoensis forewing costal strip is noticeably paler in basal half, and PM line is distinct

E. laetificans flies later (August to October) and forewing has solid black shading immediately beyond reniform spot

E. unica forewing has distinct AM & PM lines, and pairs of dark markings along the costa; E. furtivus forewing has pale streaks in subterminal area, and a blackish terminal band

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Pacific Northwest Moths