Euxoa tessellata (Harris) Tessellate Dart

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 27

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).