Species Xestia badicollis - Northern Variable Dart - Hodges#10968

10968

wingspan 32-45 mm

larva length to 25 mm

Adult: forewing gray with slight red or pink shading; lines sharp to obscure, usually widening into spots at costa; black shading on basal side of orbicular spot, and reddish-brown shading between orbicular and reniform spots, with thin black edge underneath; hindwing dark grayish-brown (1)

Larva: body variably green, brown, grayish-brown, or grayish-green with tiny yellowish-white speckles; head greenish; middorsal stripe narrow, faint; subdorsal stripe white; spiracular stripe narrow, dark green; subspiracular stripe broad, speckled, yellowish-white; subventral stripe white, narrow, fragmented [C.T. Maier et al]

Nova Scotia to North Carolina, west to Missouri and Ontario

mixed and coniferous woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light

adults fly from late July to October, but are most numerous in late August and early September

larvae present from late fall to July (overwinter)

larvae feed mainly on White Pine; other hosts include Balsam Fir, Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Larch, White Spruce, and Northern White-cedar

one generation per year; overwinters as a larva

Xestia elimata is very similar and flies with badicollis in north Atlantic coastal states and the Ohio Valley. However, the range of elimata extends much further south to Gulf Coast states, whereas the range of badicollis only goes as far south as Ohio and West Virginia. (2)

Praevia Dart (Xestia praevia) is very similar but has a darker and more uniformly brown forewing, larger black marking basal to orbicular spot, and darker and less distinct AM and PM lines; paler individuals of praevia may be very difficult to distinguish from badicollis. The two are most easily separated by flight time. X. praevia flies from late June through early August, and is most numerous in July. By the time fresh X. badicollis begin flying in late July, most X. praevia are very worn, and when X. badicollis flight peaks in early September, X. praevia is essentially done flying for the year.

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)