Ypsilon Dart (Dark Sword-grass Moth)

This is a type of cutworm moth. The larvae go by "black cutworm" or "greasy cutworm" and are not picky eaters, but feed on a wide variety of plants found in your basic vegetable garden such as corn, lettuce and potatoes. Also listed as food plants are clover, grasses and tobacco.

Holland's reference indicates that this species is very common, and the larva stay underground during the day, coming up to feed at night. He calls them "a plague to the market-gardener."

(Note: modern spelling is "ipsilon".)