|scientific name Eurois occulta |
common name Great Gray Dart; Great Brocade
Woodlands and edges.
June through early September.
A rather large moth (5.5 - 6.5 cm. ws) with grey and black FW. The normal noctuid pattern is well marked, the lines doubled. The AM and PM lines are bordered in white, and the claviform and orbicular clearly marked with pale scales. Reniform large, but not contrasting strongly with the ground. Median and terminal areas darker. HW sooty gray-black, fringe white and contrasting sharply. Antennae simple. Sexes similar. Can be separated from Eurois nigra by the black HW with white fringe, and from Eurois astricta by the grey and black instead of brown FW.
Widespread and fairly common.
A variety of trees, shrubs and herbs. In North America Tamarack, Trembling aspen, alder and willow have been reported, with Tamarack listed as the major host (Prentice et al, 1962)! European records include alder, willow, Ribes, Rose, Lathyrus, Chamaenerion, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. uliginosum, and Thymus.
Eurasia and temperate North America. In NA, from Lab and NJ west across southern Canada to the Pacific.
Eurois occulta comes to light and is often rather common at sugar bait. Some authors spell the specific name occultus.
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