Feltia repleta

(Walker, 1857)

replete dart

Feltia repleta is a tropical noctuid with a wingspan of 45–50 mm. It ranges from South America through Mexico and occurs sporadically in the southern United States. The is known to have larvae that feed on various plants, including agricultural crops.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Feltia repleta: //ˈfɛl.ti.ə riˈpleː.ta//

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Identification

May be distinguished from similar noctuid by size and geographic provenance; precise diagnostic characters require examination.

Appearance

Wingspan 45–50 mm. typical of the Feltia within Noctuidae.

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical regions; occasional occurrences in warm temperate areas of the southern United States suggest vagrant or transient rather than established breeding .

Distribution

Native range extends from Argentina and Brazil northward through Central America to Mexico. Sporadically recorded in Florida, Louisiana, and southern Texas in the United States.

Diet

Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants including agricultural crops such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum).

Life Cycle

Larvae are subterranean cutworms. Females have been observed laying in flower of plants including Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) and Eupatorium .

Behavior

are attracted to flowers. Larvae migrate from flower to soil to complete development as subterranean cutworms.

Ecological Role

Larval stage acts as herbivore and occasional agricultural pest. and early instars serve as for including Ceratogastra ornata (Ichneumonidae).

Human Relevance

Minor agricultural pest; larvae feed on tomato crops and other cultivated plants.

Similar Taxa

Feltia subterraneaCongeneric with similar subterranean larval habits and overlapping distribution in parts of the southern United States; requires genitalia examination or molecular analysis for definitive separation.

More Details

Parasitoid relationships

Documented of the ichneumonid Ceratogastra ornata, which oviposits into or newly-hatched larvae in flower .