Bug FAQVariable Darts and Allies
Xestia elimata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Chameleon Caterpillar, Southern Variable Dart
The Variable Darts and Allies moth has a wingspan of about 42 mm and belongs to the elimata species group. It lives in the eastern United States, where the larvae feed on hard pines such as pitch and red pine, and adults fly from September to October. There is one generation per year, and it is almost indistinguishable from three related Xestia species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It belongs to the elimata species group.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan is about 42 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on pine species such as pitch pine, red pine and other hard pines.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from September through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is the eastern part of North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is very similar to Xestia praevia, Xestia elimata and Xestia badicollis, with no clear differences in genitalia or DNA, so they may be a single species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 29 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New Jersey, Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Variable Darts and Allies moths active?
Adults fly from September to October, depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae of this moth eat?
The larvae feed on hard pine trees, including pitch pine and red pine.
Source: Wikipedia
How many generations does this moth have each year?
There is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What other moths look like Variable Darts and Allies?
It is almost identical to Xestia praevia, Xestia elimata and Xestia badicollis, with no clear genital or DNA differences.
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_elimata
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.