29,261 observationsLeast Concern
Ipsilon Dart Moth
Agrotis ipsilon
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia βΊPhylum: Arthropoda βΊClass: Insecta βΊOrder: Lepidoptera βΊFamily: Noctuidae βΊGenus: Agrotis
About
Agrotis ipsilon, the dark sword-grass, black cutworm, greasy cutworm, or floodplain cutworm is a small noctuid moth found worldwide. The moth gets its scientific name from black markings on its forewings shaped like a letter "Y" and resembles the Greek letter epsilon. The larvae are known as "cutworms" because they cut plants and other crops. The larvae are serious agricultural pests and feed on nearly all varieties of vegetables and many important grains.