Bug FAQPraevia Dart
Xestia praevia · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Praevia Variable Dart, Praevia Dart Moth
Praevia Dart is a moth in the Noctuidae family with a wingspan of about 32 mm. It lives across Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia and extends southward to California. The larvae feed on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and adults are on the wing in July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Praevia Dart belongs to the moth family Noctuidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 32 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the needles of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active and fly from July through August, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period occurs in midsummer, typically July to August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range covers much of Canada and extends into the western United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 12 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Michigan, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania.
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
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see adult Praevia Darts?
Adults are on the wing in July and August, though the exact timing varies by region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Praevia Dart found?
It occurs throughout many Canadian provinces and extends south into California.
Source: Wikipedia
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_praevia
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.