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Garden Dart
Euxoa nigricans (Linnaeus, 1761)
Noctuidae: Noctuinae
2082 / 73.314
Photo © Charlie Streets, 22 Aug 2010,  Skircoat Green, Calderdale

Similar Yorkshire Species
White-line Dart
Euxoa tritici
Square-spot Rustic
Xestia xanthographa
Forewing: 15-18mm
Flight: July - September
Foodplant:   Herbaceous plants
Red List: Vulnerable (VU)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2

Yorkshire Status: Scarce and declining resident.

Garden Dart has been in decline for many years. How times have changed! In 1907 Porritt wrote "found in greater or less numbers in all parts of the county." It seems to have been reasonably common until the 1970s, but since then numbers have gradually reduced and it is now very rare indeed, in fact since 2010 we have only had four confirmed records - two at Flamborough, One at Wykeham, and one at Richmond. So if it is still resident in the county, it is maintaining a very low profile. Nationally it has certainly been declining, but the north of England seems to have been particularly badly hit. Parts of eastern England and the east of Scotland seem to be in a better state. The situation across the Pennines seem to be equally dire, and The Moths of Lancashire says "overall its propects look bleak". We do receive quite a number of records of this species from new moth trappers who, seeing the name "Garden", assume that it is common in gardens. Nothing could be further from the truth, and most of these moths turn out on further examination to be Square-spot Rustic. Quite what has caused the current decline is a mystery. It is easy to mistake it for dark forms of White-line Dart, and dissection to confirm it is not easy as the two species have confusingly similar genitalia.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Recorded at a fairly low density throughout all five vice-counties. Particularly sparse in VC65 and higher areas generally.

Recorded in 78 (39%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1880.
Last Recorded in 2022.
Additional Stats

Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
02/08/2022165NZ10 - Richmond
06/08/2020162SE98 - Wykeham
11/08/2017161TA27 - Flamborough Head (North)
07/08/2015161TA27 - Flamborough Head (North)
09/09/2010162SE65 - York (E)
Further info: Euxoa nigricans
 
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