Agrotis ruta

Eversmann, 1851

Subarctic Dart

Agrotis ruta is a noctuid with a Holarctic distribution, first described by Eduard Friedrich Eversmann in 1851. It is primarily found in northern regions of North America and Eurasia. The has a wingspan of 40–46 mm. Agrotis patula was synonymized with this species in 1989.

Agrotis ruta by no rights reserved, uploaded by Andreas Manz. Used under a CC0 license.Agrotis ruta by (c) Doug Macaulay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Doug Macaulay. Used under a CC-BY license.Agrotis ruta by (c) Doug Macaulay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Doug Macaulay. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agrotis ruta: /ˈaɡroˌtis ˈruː.ta/

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Identification

Can be distinguished from similar Agrotis by its northern Holarctic distribution and specific wing measurements. Precise diagnostic characters require examination of genitalia or reference to specialized noctuid taxonomic literature.

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Appearance

Medium-sized noctuid with wingspan of 40–46 mm. Specific coloration and pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Habitat

Northern and subarctic environments. Associated with open in northern latitudes including tundra transition zones and northern forests.

Distribution

Holarctic distribution. In North America: Alaska, Yukon Territory, Labrador, northern Manitoba, northern British Columbia, Rocky Mountains to southern Alberta. In Eurasia: northern Urals, Siberia, Mongolia, China, and Japan.

Behavior

are attracted to blacklight, as is typical for noctuid . Activity patterns specific to this are not documented.

Similar Taxa

  • Agrotis ipsilonSimilar and general , but Agrotis ipsilon has a much broader global distribution and is a significant agricultural pest; A. ruta is restricted to northern Holarctic regions and is not documented as a crop pest
  • Other Agrotis speciesMany Agrotis are superficially similar in appearance; accurate identification of A. ruta requires attention to its specific northern distribution and may require dissection and examination of genitalia

More Details

Taxonomic History

Agrotis patula was placed in synonymy with Agrotis ruta by Kononenko et al. in 1989. The was originally described as Xylina ruta by Eversmann in 1851.

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Sources and further reading