Common name: Black-letter
dart/ Spotted cutworm..
Hodges #: 10942.
Identification: Rfw 15.9 mm (&),
fw dull brown to deep blue-gray, orbicular a 'V-shaped' spot. In any given
locality, sex for sex, this species is a few mm. smaller than X. dolosa--
see key.
Ptagiae usually bi-colored, contrasting with tegulae.. In dissected
material, juxta shape is distinctive: broadened lower portion is < 1/2 the
total height of juxta.
Similar species: 10674,
10942.1,
10950,
11047.
Distribution: .Transcontinental, from Alaska to Newfoundland,
southward through temperate U.S., ranging further to the south in the
Rockies and Appalachians. Also occurs in the Palearctic.
Hosts: Records for this species and X. dolosa are confused
in the literature. Between them, at least 60 species of herbs,
vegetables, and woody plants have been reported from North America.
Franclemont (1980) notes that X. c-nigrum (as X. adela) is
a species of meadows and disturbed habitats; Lafontaine (1998) would
associate most host records with X. c-nigrum.
Note: Franclemont (1980) found genitallic differences
between Old World and New World populations and proposed the name X.
adela for New World material. Lafontaine (1998) found
intermediate populations from western Canada and Alaska. North
Dakota material would be
X. c. adela Franclemont.
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Both specimens: ND Pembina Co.,
Pembina Gorge, 11 mi W. Walhalla.
UV/ Hg lt. 14- VIII- 2001. G. Fauske.
Head and thorax of X. c-nigrum with
base of ptagiae contrasting with tegulae. |