Species Details
Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameRuby Dart
SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from mid July through early August.
IdentificationA medium-size compact rusty-orange noctuid moth. Forewings reddish or rusty orange and hindwings pale yellow-orange. The forewings are crossed by paler antemedian and postmedian lines, and the median area between the two is mostly darker red-brown. The terminal area beyond the postmedian line is divided into a darker basal half and a lighter orange terminal half. The orbicular and reniform spots are large and prominent, lighter orange than the associated ground, and somewhat angular.
Scientific Name
Xestia oblata
Common Name
Ruby Dart
Habitat
Montane and boreal deciduous and mixedwood forest.
Seasonality
Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid July through early August.
Identification
A medium-size compact rusty-orange noctuid moth. Forewings reddish or rusty orange and hindwings pale yellow-orange. The forewings are crossed by paler antemedian and postmedian lines, and the median area between…
A medium-size compact rusty-orange noctuid moth. Forewings reddish or rusty orange and hindwings pale yellow-orange. The forewings are crossed by paler antemedian and postmedian lines, and the median area between the two is mostly darker red-brown. The terminal area beyond the postmedian line is divided into a darker basal half and a lighter orange terminal half. The orbicular and reniform spots are large and prominent, lighter orange than the associated ground, and somewhat angular.
Life History
Poorly known. The adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single brood each year, with adults flying in summer.
Conservation
A fairly common widespread moth; no concerns.
Diet Info
No Alberta data. Larvae have been reared to 3rd instar on Spiraea latifolia and a willow (Salix bebbiana). (McCabe, 1991 "Atlas of Adirondack caterpillars. New York State Mus. Bull., 470: 1-114
Range
Across the boreal forest of Canada, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and the Yukon; south to New England and Wisconsin in the east and north central California and northern New Mexico in the west. In Alberta…
Across the boreal forest of Canada, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and the Yukon; south to New England and Wisconsin in the east and north central California and northern New Mexico in the west. In Alberta collected mainly in the foothills, but also in the Cypress Hills and less commonly in the boreal forest region. It has also been collected in the Red Deer River valley at Tolman Bridge.
Citation
Page Citation for Xestia oblata
Page Citation
"Species Details - Xestia oblata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1545. Accessed 06 May. 2024.
References
Author
Lafontaine, J. Donald
Title
Noctuoidea : Noctuidae (part-Noctuini)
Publication Date
1998
Pages
348
Specimen Information
There are 81 specimens of this Species.
UASM43193 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mount Stearn
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-07-18
UASM43194 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mount Stearn
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-07-18
UASM41657 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Prospect Creek
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.; Schmidt, B. C.
Date Collected2000-07-21
UASM78238 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner Lakes
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Macaulay, S. H.
Date Collected2004-07-14
UASM41425 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton National Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2005-07-07
BIRD14141 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sundre
Collected ByMengersen, E.
Date Collected1999-07-19/1999-07-20
BIRD14142 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Trochu
Collected ByMengersen, E.
Date Collected2000-07-03/2000-07-04
BIRD14143 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Trochu
Collected ByMengersen, E.
Date Collected2001-07-08/2001-07-09
BIRD14144 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Big Knife Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2002-07-09
CBCC1084 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Collected ByChristensen, C. B.
Date Collected2005-07-08
BIRD18744 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rimbey
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-07-21
BIRD18745 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rimbey
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-07-22
UASM78883 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park
Collected ByMacaulay, D.; Lawrie, D.
Date Collected2006-07-16
UASM78917 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park
Collected ByMacaulay, D.; Lawrie, D.
Date Collected2006-07-22
UASM99630 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2008-09-08
JD4035 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kootenay Plains ER Ecological Reserve
Collected BySchwarzfeld, M.
Date Collected2007-07-14
UASM123501 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Mount McLean
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1993-07-09
UASM123502 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Vernon
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1993-06-13
UASM123503 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Clayhurst
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1999-07-11
UASM123504 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Apex Mountain
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1992-07-18
UASM123505 - Xestia oblata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Apex Mountain
Collected ByTroubridge, J.
Date Collected1992-07-18