Euxoa tessellata Tessellate Dart

17. Euxoa tessellata (Harris) Tessellate Dart (adult), Striped Cutworm (larva)

(Fig. 20)

Identification: Forewing length 13.0–18.0 mm. Forewing ground color is dark brown with a faint pattern. Orbicular and reniform spots are lighter than ground color and at least partially outlined with black. A small triangular black patch is proximal to the orbicular spot and a larger trapezoidal black patch lies between orbicular and reniform spots. Claviform spot is absent. Hindwing color is dirty white to light brown; costa, outer margin, and veins are dark.

There are several forms of this species in eastern North America. The most common forms have reddish brown or gray forewings. A less common form lacks the black shading near the orbicular spot which could be confused with E. messoria and E. pleuritica. This form of E. tessallata has faint or indistinct forewing markings as compared with the more heavily marked forewings of E. messoria and E. pleuritica.

Flight period: Early June to late September, with most records from late June to early August (Lafontaine 1987).

Collected Localities: This species is not recorded from the Park, but it is likely to occur there.

General distribution: This is the most widespread species of Euxoa, occurring across North America from Newfoundland west to Alaska and south to North Carolina, Kansas, central New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California (Lafontaine 1987).

Larval hosts: This is a climbing cutworm, and larvae are a pest on tobacco (Nicotania sp., Solanaceae), garden crops, and woody shrubs including cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L., Rosaceae), apple (Malus sp., Rosaceae), and pear (Pyrus sp., Rosaceae) (Lafontaine 1987).