Subterranean Dart

Feltia subterranea · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae

Also called: Granulate Cutworm, Subterranean Dart Moth, Tawny Shoulder

Damages trees, gardens or crops. The larvae feed on many crops, so it can be a crop pest.

The moth has a wingspan of about 38 to 44 mm. It lives across North, Central and South America, from the northeastern United States to Chile and the Antilles. Its caterpillars eat a wide variety of plants, including over 60 economically important crops.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Wingspan ranges from 38 mm to 44 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Found from Massachusetts and New York west to California, and south through the United States, Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae feed on many plants, with over 61 host species of economic importance. Adults visit flowers of fetterbush lyonia for pollination.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Native to North America, from the northeastern United States to California and the southern United States and Mexico. Also native to Central and South America, including Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, southeast Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and the Antilles.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

Formerly known as Agrotis subterranea; belongs to the Noctuidae family.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it is found in the US

Recorded in 36 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia.

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Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.

Source: GBIF

Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist

Months it is reported in the US

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Source: GBIF

More photos

Subterranean Dart photo 3 — Photo: Leila Dasher, CC BY

Subterranean Dart photo 4 — Photo: John G. Phillips, CC BY

Subterranean Dart photo 5 — Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, CC BY

Subterranean Dart photo 6 — Photo: Elliot Greiner, CC BY

Questions people ask

How big is the subterranean dart moth?

Its wingspan is roughly 38 to 44 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where can I find this moth?

It occurs from the northeastern United States across the continent to California, and further south through Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.

Source: Wikipedia

Does it damage crops?

Yes, the caterpillars eat many crop plants, with over 60 important hosts recorded.

Source: Wikipedia