Bug FAQSubgothic and Tricose Darts
Feltia subgothica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Gothic Dart, Subgothic Dart, Subgothic Dart Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The gothic dart moth has a wingspan of about 34 mm. Adults fly from July through September. It lives across central North America up into Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Feltia subgothica, called the gothic or subgothic dart, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan is roughly 34 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in central North America, reaching north to Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from July to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period runs from July through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes central North America and extends into parts of Canada such as Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 36 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Vermont.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae eat?
The caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants, including many crops, forages, vegetables and wildflowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the gothic dart moth found?
It occurs in central North America and extends north into Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
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/Feltia_subgothica
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.