Agrotis obliqua

Smith, 1903

Oblique Dart

Agrotis obliqua is a to North America, first described by Edgar Albert Smith in 1903. The has a wingspan of approximately 30 mm. are active in spring and early summer, with a single produced annually. It is found across a broad geographic range from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, extending southward to Colorado, Arizona, and California.

CATALOGUE-BM-PLATE LXXVIII by Sir GEORGE F. HAMPSON, Bart.. Used under a Public domain license.Agrotis obliqua CSU ENT1106263 by CSU, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management. Used under a CC0 license.CATALOGUE-BM-LIX by Sir GEORGE F. HAMPSON, Bart.. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agrotis obliqua: /əˈɡroʊtɪs əˈblɪkwə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Wingspan of approximately 30 mm distinguishes it from larger Agrotis . The specific epithet 'obliqua' may refer to an oblique marking on the , though this is not explicitly documented in available sources. active in spring and early summer, which may help separate it from some Agrotis species with different periods. Definitive identification requires examination of or reference to original description.

Images

Habitat

Specific preferences not documented. Based on distribution records, occurs in diverse environments across North America including , montane, and temperate regions.

Distribution

North America: Newfoundland to Vancouver Island, south to Colorado, Arizona, and California. Canadian provincial records include Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

Seasonality

on in spring and early summer. One per year ().

Life Cycle

One per year. stage not specified in available sources. Larval development presumably occurs following period in spring and early summer.

Behavior

activity typical of . Specific behaviors such as attraction to light, communication, or larval habits not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Agrotis ipsilon with overlapping North distribution; distinguished by larger size and different seasonal activity patterns
  • Agrotis orthogonia with overlapping western North range; differs in preference for loose, sandy soils and larval feeding habits

More Details

Original Description

First described by Edgar Albert Smith in 1903, with basionym Feltia obliqua.

Tags

Sources and further reading