Dark Sword-grass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dark Sword-grass | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766) |
The Dark Sword-grass or Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon [1]) is a small noctuid Moth found worldwide.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The Dark Sword-grass has pale brown forewings with dark brown and black markings and translucent hindwings, greyish white with brown venation. The hindwings have a thin dark line along the margins of the hindwings.
The moth gets its specific name from black markings on the forewings shaped like a Y and resembling the greek letter 'ipsilon'.
The moth has a wingspan of 4 to 5.5 cms.[1]
[edit] Range
The moth is found throughout the world.[1]
[edit] Life Cycle
The caterpillar of the Dark Sword-grass is smooth and ranges from purplish to brown in colour and is patterned with grey lines and spots.[1]
[edit] Host plants
The moth caterpillar feeds on Potato (Solanum), Tobacco (Nicotiana), Cotton (Gossypium) and Cabbage (Brassica).[1]
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Carter, David - Butterflies and Moths (Dorling Kindersley Handbooks), Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London, 1992 ISBN 0 7513 2707 7.
[edit] External links
- Herbison-Evans, Don; Crossley, Stella (2006) Agrotis ipsilon

