Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members:
Dargida Members:
35 NC Records

Dargida diffusa (Walker, 1856) - Wheat Head Armyworm Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: NoctuinaeTribe: HadeniniP3 Number: 932928.00 MONA Number: 10431.00
Comments: This is a large New World genus which recently has included the species formerly placed in Faronta. Three species occur in North Carolina. While primarily a genus of high altitude species in the West, Central and South America, our species occur at sea level with some penetrating the mountains.
Species Status: Specimens from North Carolina and elsewhere throughout its range have been sampled and there is very little variation at all, a situation often found in migrant species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Faronta diffusa); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954), as Faronta diffusaTechnical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1954); Wagner et al. (2011)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Similar in size, coloration, and pattern to some of the Leucanias, but the more heavily streaked forewings and pearly-white hindwings are distinctive. Look for the elongated triangular mark below the apex of the forewing and a dark discal spot.
Adult Structural Features: The three species of Dargida have slightly different genitalia but can be more easily distinguished by their maculation.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are extremely variable in color pattern and are similar to those of D. rubripennis, which feed on at least some of the same species of grasses (see Wagner et al., 2011, for illustrations and a detailed description). Pupae overwinter in an underground cell (Wagner et al, 2011).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Recorded from most areas of the state, including the Barrier Islands and High Mountains, but records from the Piedmont are currently absent. Records from forested areas in the High Mountains probably represent migrants.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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