Bug FAQGreater Black-letter Dart
Xestia dolosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Cutworm Moth, Greater Black-letter Dart Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The greater black-letter dart (Xestia dolosa) is a North-American moth with a wingspan of about 40 mm. Its caterpillars feed on many crops such as barley, clover, corn, tobacco, apples and maples, making it a crop pest. Adults fly from May to October in the South (two generations) and from July to August in the North (one generation).
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Xestia dolosa is also called the greater black-letter dart, woodland spotted cutworm, or spotted cutworm.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan is roughly 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat a range of crop plants, including barley, clovers, corn, tobacco, apples and maples.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May through October in southern areas, producing two generations, and from July to August in northern areas, producing one generation.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight periods match the life-cycle timing: May-Oct in the South and July-Aug in the North.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers much of the United States and Canada, from the east coast to the central plains.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The name “spotted cutworm” is also used for the larvae of Xestia c-nigrum, which can be confused with this species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 43 of 51 states and DC. Most records: North Carolina, Minnesota, Ohio, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the greater black-letter dart damage?
Its caterpillars feed on crops such as barley, clover, corn, tobacco, as well as apples and maples.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult greater black-letter darts active?
In the South they fly from May to October with two generations; in the North they fly from July to August with one generation.
Source: Wikipedia
What other insect is called a spotted cutworm?
The larvae of Xestia c-nigrum are also referred to as spotted cutworms.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xestia_dolosa
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.