Noctuidae
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Noctuidae
| image = Redunderwing04.JPG
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Red Underwing
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Arthropoda
| classis = Insecta
| ordo = Lepidoptera
| subordo = Ditrysia
| superfamilia = Noctuoidea
| familia = Noctuidae
| familia_authority = Latreille, 1809
| type_species = Noctua pronuba
| type_species_authority = (Large Yellow Underwing)
| diversity = 4,200 genera
35,000 species
| diversity_link = Lepidopteran diversity
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
Acontiinae
Acronictinae
Aganainae
Agaristinae
Amphipyrinae
Amphipyrinae
Bagisarinae
Bryophilinae
Calpinae
Catocalinae
Cocytiinae
Condicinae
Cuculliinae
Dilobinae
Eucocytiinae
Eustrotiinae
Euteliinae
Glottulinae
Hadeninae
Heliothinae
Herminiinae
Hypeninae
Ipimorphinae
Noctuinae
Plusiinae
Psaphidinae
Raphiinae
Stictopterinae
Stiriinae
Strepsimaninae
Ufeinae
}}
The Noctuidae or Owlets are a family of robustly-built moths with more than 25,000 known species [possibly 100,000 in the family]. Most have drab forewings, although some have brightly coloured hindwings. There are usually few differences between the sexes. The overwhelming majority of noctuids fly at night and are almost invariably strongly attracted to light. Many are also attracted to sugar and nectar-rich flowers.
Several species have larvae (caterpillars) that live in the soil and are agricultural or horticultural pests. These are the "cutworms" that eat the bases of young brassicas and lettuces. They form hard, shiny pupae. Most noctuid larvae feed at night, resting in the soil or in a crevice in its food plant during the day.
Species include, (division in subfamilies, and the amount of subfamilies varies somewhat in various taxonomical systems):
- Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)
- The Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)
- The Miller (Acronicta leporina)
- Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens)
- Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi)
- Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica)
- Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea)
- Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera)
- Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)
- Red Underwing (Catocala nupta)
- Aholibah Underwing (Catocala aholibah)
- The Shark (Cucullia umbratica)
- The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii)
- Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
- Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)
- Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
- Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata)
- The Lychnis (Hadena bicruris)
- Antler Moth (Cerapteryx graminis)
- Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea)
- Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)
- Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)
- The Clay (Mythimna ferrago)
- Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)
- Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)
- Shoulder-striped Wainscot (Leucania comma)
- Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea)
- The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)
- Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
- Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)
- Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa)
- Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
- Minor Shoulder-knot (Brachylomia viminalis)
- Northern Deep-brown Dart (Aporophyla lueneburgensis)
- Grey Chi (Antitype chi)
- The Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)
- The Brick (Agrochola circellaris)
- The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina)
- Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
- Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)
- Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa)
- Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
- Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura)
- Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)
- Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
- Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
- Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)
- Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthina)
- Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)
- True Lover's Knot (Lycophotia porphyrea)
- Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica)
- Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)
- Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
- Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)
- Six-striped Rustic (Xestia sexstrigata)
- Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
- The Gothic (Naenia typica)
- Garden Dart (Euxoa nigricans)
- Bogong Moth (Agrotis infusa)
- Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)
- Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)
- Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
- Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
Additional examples:
- Pasture Day Moth (Apina callisto)
- The Flame (Axylia putris)
- Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)
- Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata)
- White Witch (moth) (Thysania agrippina)
