Other Common Names
Dark-sided Cutworm (larva)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Euxoa messoria (Harris, 1841)
described in 1841 by Harris, who originally placed it in genus Agrotis
15 synonyms listed but none more recent than 1926.
Phylogenetic sequence #933319
Identification
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with black double scalloped AM and PM lines; reniform and orbicular spots same color as ground color with black perimeter; subterminal line pale, irregular; some dark shading in terminal area, especially about midway along outer margin; hindwing mostly white with dark veins, dark terminal line, and pale fringe.
Range
Newfoundland to Yukon, south to California, New Mexico, and North Carolina.
Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection locations and dates.
Habitat
Open grasslands, cultivated areas, clearings; adults are nocturnal and come to light and sugar bait.
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of apple, cultivated vegetables and flowers, and various other plants.
Life Cycle
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.
See Also
Scholastic Dart (
Euxoa scholastica) is very similar but forewing has dark subterminal line and no dark shading in terminal area, and hindwing is uniformly dark;
scholastica is uncommon to rare within its range, it does not occur west of Ontario and Wisconsin, and its larval foodplants are unknown
Internet References
University of Alberta E. H. Strickland Entomological Museum - pinned adult images, habitat, fight season, description, biology.
Moth Photographers Group and photos of related species.
species account including live adult images, description, flight season, larval foodplants (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
presence in North Carolina; PDF doc including description, flight season, distribution, pinned adult image (Michael Pogue, Zootaxa, mapress.com)
presence in California; list of 32 specimen records with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution in Canada; list of provinces and territories of occurrence (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
