Agrotis venerabilis Walker, Venerable Dart, 1857

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 21-22

9. Agrotis venerabilis Walker, Venerable Dart (adult), Dusky Cutworm (larva)

( Fig. 11, Map 7)

Identification: Forewing length 16.0–17.0 mm. This is a distinct species, and the male has bipectinate antennae. Forewing color is variable from completely dark gray to the dark gray area in the costal half extending to the reniform spot with the rest of the wing pale gray. Orbicular spot is an elongate oval, reniform spot is dark gray, and claviform spot is an elongate dark gray dash, with all spots outlined in black. Prothorax is black contrasting with pale gray tegulae. Hindwing varies from pale to dark gray.

Flight period: Collected in September and October.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Swain Co., Big Cove Road site b, Big Cove Road site c, Big Cove Road site p, Big Cove Road site w . Tennessee: Blount Co., Tremont; Cocke Co. , Foothills Parkway ; Sevier Co. , Elkmont , Park Headquarters. (16 specimens)

Elevation range: 1360–2200 ft. (415–671 m)

General distribution: Widespread in North America from Newfoundland to British Columbia in Canada and in the United States from Maine to Florida and west to the West Coast ( Lafontaine 2004) .

MAP 7. Collecting localities of Agrotis venerabilis .

Larval hosts: Polyphagous; hosts include alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae ), beans ( Fabaceae ), chickweed ( Cerastium sp. , Caryophyllaceae ), clover ( Trifolium sp. , Fabaceae ), corn ( Zea mays L., Poaceae ), little barley ( Hordeum pusillum Nutt. , Poaceae ), and tobacco (Nicotania sp., Solanaceae ).