73.325 : 2092 : 10,343
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

Shuttle-shaped Dart

AGROTIS puta (Hübner, [1803])

Subspecies
A. p.insula Richardson, 1958-Isles of Scilly
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 30-32mm
Worldwide Distribution: Southern Europe : Central Europe : North Africa : Middle East
UK Distribution: Resident : Common and widespread of much of Southern and central England to Yorkshire and Wales : Ireland-few records : Isle of Man-rare : Channel Isles-Common and widespread
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status - 
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Noctua puta (Hübner [1803])
Type Species - Agrotis
  • Noctua segetum ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: April-November-South-at least Bivoltine-2 generations, but possibly Trivoltine-3 generations
Habitat: Gardens : Grassland : Heathland : Open woodland : Agricultural land
Similar Species:-
  • The Flame Axylia putris (Linnaeus, 1761)
Ovum: The ovum is pudding shaped,white, and with ridges down the sides.
Larva: September-April : May-August.Below the spiracles the larva is white and above is brown.Along the Top of the larva is a band that runs the full length that can be orange or in the form of a two lines with a series of inward facing dashes in yellow.
Overwinters as: Early stage larva
Observations: The moths common name is derived from the two pale elongated ovals which are "shuttle shaped" and pointed at both ends and can e seen clearly in the photos below.
The reniform stigmata is clearly marked in brown/blackish with a dark blotch inside which follows the kidney shape.
The male has a pale brown forewing but the female has a much darker forewing but still with the same markings which give the moth its common name.
The subspecies A. insula have markings that are brighter and more pronounced and is only found on the isles of Scilly.

The moth is attracted to light and sugar and is also known to visit flowers after dark.

Subspecies
A. p.puta Hübner, 1800 - Southern Europe : Central Europe including Great Britain : North Africa : Middle East
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - AGROTIS:

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Type Locality

Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
AGROTIS Ochsenheimer, 1816
Agrotis puta (Hübner, [1803])
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Noctua segetum ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
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= NOCTUA puta (Hübner [1803])
= Noctua renitens Hübner, [1824]
= Noctua lignosa Godart, [1824]
= Xylina erythroxylea Treitschke, 1826
= Agrotis radiola Stephens, 1829
= Euxoa silvestrii Turati, 1924
= Agrotis insula Richardson 1958
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AGROTIS Ochsenheimer 1816
= Powellinia Oberthür 1912
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Sammlung europäischer Schmetterlinge / errichtet von Jacob Hübner in Augsburg. By Hübner, Jacob, 1761-1826 : Lepidoptera 1V : Noctuae 11 : pl. 52 - f. 55
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Europe
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A.p.puta Hübner, 1803- Southern Europe : Central Europe : North Africa : Middle East
A.p.insula Richardson, 1958-Isles of Scilly