Boston dart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Euxoa bostoniensis |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Euxoa
|
| Species: |
E. bostoniensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Euxoa bostoniensis (Grote, 1874)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Boston dart or drab cutworm (Euxoa bostoniensis) is a type of moth. It belongs to a family of moths called Noctuidae. These moths are found in many parts of North America.
Contents
Discover the Boston Dart Moth
The Boston dart moth is known by two common names. People call it the Boston dart or the drab cutworm. It's a fascinating insect that flies mainly at night.
Where Do These Moths Live?
You can find the Boston dart moth in many places. They live from Ontario and Maine in the east. Their home stretches south to North Carolina. They also live west to Missouri and north to Michigan. Sometimes, they have been seen even further away. This includes places like Florida, California, and South Dakota.
What Does the Boston Dart Moth Look Like?
These moths are not very big. Their wingspan is about 40 to 45 millimeters. That's about 1.5 to 1.7 inches wide. Imagine a small paperclip; their wings are a bit wider than that.
When Can You See Them?
Adult Boston dart moths fly during certain times of the year. You can often spot them in May. They also fly later in the year, from September to October. This means they have two main flight periods each year.
What Do Boston Dart Moths Eat?
The young moths, called larvae, need food to grow. These larvae mostly eat plants from the Nicotiana group. This group includes plants like tobacco. However, you can find these moths in areas where tobacco plants don't grow. This suggests they can eat other types of plants too.
