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Brown-collared dart facts for kids

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Brown-collared dart
Protolampra brunneicollis – Brown-collared Dart Moth (14607115454).jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Protolampra
Species:
P. brunneicollis
Binomial name
Protolampra brunneicollis
(Grote, 1864)
Synonyms
  • Noctua brunneicollis Grote, 1864

The brown-collared dart (scientific name: Protolampra brunneicollis) is a type of moth. It belongs to a large family of moths called Noctuidae. A scientist named Augustus Radcliffe Grote first described this moth in 1864.

Discover the Brown-collared Dart Moth

This interesting moth is known for its unique appearance. It is a nocturnal insect, meaning it is active at night. Moths like the brown-collared dart play an important role in their ecosystems.

Where Do Brown-collared Dart Moths Live?

You can find the brown-collared dart moth across eastern North America. Its home range stretches from New Brunswick to Alberta in southern Canada. In the United States, it lives from Maine down to North Carolina and Tennessee. It also spreads west to Mississippi and north to Minnesota. Sometimes, you might even spot them in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.

How Big Are These Moths?

The brown-collared dart moth has a wingspan of about 35 millimeters (which is about 1.4 inches). This measurement is the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other when the wings are spread open.

When Can You See Brown-collared Dart Moths?

Adult brown-collared dart moths are usually flying from June to September. They might have one or two generations each year. Sometimes, adults might go into a resting state called aestivation during hot periods.

What Do Brown-collared Dart Moth Caterpillars Eat?

The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, enjoy a variety of plants. They feed on many low-growing plants, both herbaceous (non-woody) and woody ones. Their favorite foods include blueberry, clover, dandelion, sweet-fern, and tobacco. Scientists have also raised them on plants like Vaccinium (blueberries), Taraxacum officinale (dandelions), and Comptonia peregrina (sweet-fern).

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