PALE-BANDED DART

Agnorisma badinodis

OWLET MOTH FAMILY (Noctuidae)

This moth has a wingspan of approximately 1 5/8 inches.  It has a pale brown head with a black “collar.”  Behind the collar is a patch of blondish hair in a dark brown section followed by a lighter brown section with a black dot.  The margin is wide and dark brown.  There are two thin wavy, tan cross-bands separating the two dark brown sections from the lighter brown section.  The moth seen here was identified by Bob Patterson of the Moth Photographers Group.  The larva is probably similar to other darts which are brown to gray with longitudinal white to cream colored stripes and hairless.

The frequency of occurrence in this area is not known, but is presumed to be common since it is common in most of its range.  The individual shown here was photographed in mid-September at the Fontenelle Nature Center.

The larvae feed on many plants such as asters, clover and tobacco.