Eueretagrotis attentus (Grote) Attentive Dart

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, The Noctuinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 1215 (1), pp. 1-95 : 49-50

17. Eueretagrotis attentus (Grote) Attentive Dart

( Fig. 58, Map 35)

Identification: Forewing length 14.0–17.0 mm. Eueretagrotis attentus is an easily recognized species with a reddish­brown forewing with variable amounts of white scaling along costa from base to reniform spot. The most diagnostic character is the prominent black basal dash on the forewing. Orbicular and reniform spots are variable from ground color with a few white spots to mostly white and outlined in black. Antemedial and postmedial lines are white with darker shading, and subterminal line is white. Hindwing is white with a discal spot and thin fuscous marginal line.

Flight period: Collected in June and July.

Collected localities: North Carolina: Haywood Co., Polls Gap on Hemphill Bald Trail, Purchase Knob ; Swain Co. , Indian Gap on Clingman’s Dome Road . Tennessee: Sevier Co., Jake’s Creek Trail at Campsite 27. (5 specimens)

MAP 35. Collecting localities of Eueretagrotis attentus .

Elevation range: 3640–5400 ft. (1109–1646 m)

General distribution: This species is distributed across southern Canada from Nova Scotia to western Manitoba and in the United States from Maine to Minnesota, south along the Appalachians to western North Carolina ( Lafontaine 1998) .

Larval hosts: Reared on blueberry ( Vaccinium spp. , Ericaceae ) and willow ( Salix sp. , Salicaceae ) ( Lafontaine 1998). McCabe (1991) has reared larvae in captivity on yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis Britt. , Betulaceae ), common elderberry ( Sambucus sp. , Caprifoliaceae ), and wild strawberry ( Fragaria sp. , Rosaceae ).