About Feltia jaculifera Guenée, 1852
Feltia jaculifera, commonly known as the dingy cutworm, is a moth species belonging to the family Noctuidae. This species is widespread and common across North America. It is frequently confused with three other species within the Feltia genus: Feltia herilis, Feltia subgothica, and Feltia tricosa. For its life cycle, adult Feltia jaculifera fly between July and November. The larvae of this species overwinter, emerging in the following spring. Adult moths can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields, gardens, and waste areas. Adults are nocturnal and are often attracted to artificial lights. In drier, more arid regions, adults can be found feeding on nectar and resting on composite flowers during the late afternoon. Females of the species lay their eggs inside flower heads, most often in the flower heads of plants from the Asteraceae family.
