Bug FAQNorman’s Dart
Xestia normaniana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Norman's Dart Moth
Norman’s dart is a moth in the Noctuidae family. Its wingspan measures about 35 to 41 mm. The caterpillars feed on shrubs such as Vaccinium, cherries, raspberries, spirea and wax myrtle.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The species is called Xestia normaniana, commonly known as Norman’s dart.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of roughly 35 to 41 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae mainly eat shrubs such as Vaccinium, sweet cherry, raspberry, spirea and wax myrtle.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from July through October and there is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen on the wing between July and October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes much of Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It belongs to the Noctuidae family, which includes many similar-looking moths.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xestia_normaniana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.