About Agrotis malefida Guenée, 1852
Agrotis malefida, commonly known as the rascal dart or palesided cutworm, is a species of moth belonging to the family Noctuidae. Its distribution ranges from North Carolina and Kentucky in the eastern United States, south to Florida, west to Arizona, and north to southern Kansas. It is also found across the Neotropics, from Mexico down to Argentina and Chile. The total wingspan of Agrotis malefida measures 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in), and the length of its forewings ranges from 18–23 mm (0.71–0.91 in). In the northern portion of its range, adult moths emerge in late January, while in southern regions adults can be found flying throughout the entire year. The larvae of this species feed on a wide variety of broad-leaved herbaceous plants. Documented host plants include Brassica oleracea, Trifolium, Fabaceae, Allium, Pisum sativum, Capsicum, Solanum tuberosum, Nicotiana, Solanum lycopersicum, and many different weeds. Agrotis malefida is classified as a pest that affects agricultural crops such as Zea mays (maize/corn) and Gossypium (cotton).
