Heart and Dart
Agrotis exclamationis
Its scientific name 'exclamationis' and common name 'Heart and Dart' both describe the striking black shapes marked on its forewings.
- Scientific name
- Agrotis exclamationis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Noctuidae › Agrotis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Grasslands, meadows, gardens, agricultural fields, and waste ground.
- Diet
- Adults drink flower nectar; larvae (cutworms) feed on the roots and leaves of herbaceous plants and crops.
- Range
- Europe, Temperate Asia, North Africa
- Size
- Wingspan of 35-44 mm
- Lifespan
- Up to 1 year (including larval stage; adults live 2-4 weeks)
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Pesticide use, intensive agriculture, and artificial light pollution disrupting nocturnal behaviors.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. If one enters your home, gently cup it with a glass and card to release it outside near vegetation. Safe to observe closely.
The heart and dart ( Agrotis exclamationis ) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. A familiar moth to many, it is considered one of the most common of the European region. It occurs throughout the Palearctic ecozone from Ireland to Japan.
Photo: SteveM4560, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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