Xestia normanianus (Grote)

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 63-64

30. Xestia normanianus (Grote) Norman’s Dart

( Fig. 76, Map 47)

Identification: Forewing length 15.0–20.0 mm. Xestia normanianus is similar to X. smithii (Snellen) , but has distinct triangular and quadrate black patches in the discal cell, which are absent in X. smithii . Forewing ground color is brown to reddish brown. Orbicular spot is concolorous with ground color and mixed with white scales and quadrilateral in shape. Reniform spot is concolorous with ground color and mixed with gray and rufous scales. Black patches in the discal cell consist of a triangular spot proximal to the orbicular spot and a quadrate spot between the orbicular and reniform spots. Antemedial and postmedial lines are thin, white, and bordered on both sides by rufous. There is a conspicuous black quadrate patch at apex of subterminal line on costa. Hindwing is dark gray, discal cell present, and fringe cream.

Flight period: Collected from mid­August to mid­October.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Purchase Knob, Purchase Knob by Ferguson cabin, Purchase Knob in trees on road; Swain Co. , Beetree Ridge, Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site c, Big Cove Road site p, Big Cove Road site w . Tennessee: Blount Co., Cades Cove near Ranger Station , Cades Cove campground; Cocke Co. , Cosby ATBI house, Cosby campground area; Sevier Co. , 6 mi S Sugarlands Visitor Center, 6.2 mi S Sugarlands Visitor Center Cove Hardwood Forest. (26 specimens)

MAP 47. Collecting localities of Xestia normanianus .

Elevation range: 1760–4924 ft. (579–1501 m)

General distribution: This species is found from Nova Scotia across southern and central Canada to Alberta . In the eastern United States it ranges from Maine to eastern Minnesota, and south along the Appalachians to western North Carolina ( Lafontaine 1998) . The collections from GSMNP are new records for the state of Tennessee .

Larval hosts: Hosts are mainly shrubs including blueberry ( Vaccinium spp. , E ricaceae), cherry ( Prunus avium (L.) L., Rosaceae ), raspberry ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), meadowsweet ( Spiraea spp. , Rosaceae ), and sweet­fern ( Myrica spp. , Myricaceae ) ( Lafontaine 1998).