The large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) is a moth, the type species for the family Noctuidae. It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic realm, one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region. In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range.
This is a quite large and heavy moth with a wingspan of 50–60 mm. The forewings are quite variable from light brown to almost black. The darker individuals often have a pale streak along the costa. The hindwings are bright orange-yellow with a black sub-terminal band. As with other Noctua species (and numerous other insects), this contrast of bland-on-land and bright-in-flight is used to confuse potential predators. This species flies at night from July to September [1] and is attracted to light, sometimes in huge numbers. It will also visit flowers such as Buddleia, ragwort, and red valerian.
The larva is green or brown with two rows of black dashes along the back. This is one of the notorious "cutworms", causing fatal damage at the base of virtually any herbaceous plant (some examples listed below), sometimes severing it completely. This ubiquitous species is considered as a garden pest. The species overwinters as a larva and feeds on mild days throughout the winter.
A. pronuba, L. 48-56 mm. Antennae in male ciliated. Forewings ochreous-brown to dark fuscous, sometimes reddish tinged, sometimes partly irrorated with grey-whitish, especially towards costa anteriorly; lines often paler, dark-edged, sometimes faint, subterminal preceded on costa by a blackish mark orbicular and reniform more or less pale-edged, outlined with darker, reniform partly marked with dark grey. Hindwings ochreous-orange; a blackish terminal band. Larva pale green to dull brown; dorsal line pale; subdorsal series of blackish longitudinal marks on 5-12; a pale line beneath these; subspiracular pale; head light brown, dark-marked.[2] See Noctua orbona, the lunar yellow underwing and Noctua comes, lesser yellow underwing for differences between these species and pronuba.
^The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
^David Lentz, Jr. (2006). (PDF). Southeast District Update. University of Alaska Fairbanks. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
^Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"Robinson, G.S., P.R. Ackery, I.J. Kitching, G.W. Beccaloni & L.M. Hernández (2010). HOSTS – A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London".
Chinery, Michael (1986). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
Skinner, Bernard (1984). Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
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Noctua pronuba at funet.fi
April 13, 2024
large, yellow, underwing, large, yellow, underwing, noctua, pronuba, moth, type, species, family, noctuidae, abundant, species, throughout, palearctic, realm, most, common, most, familiar, moths, region, some, years, species, highly, migratory, with, large, nu. The large yellow underwing Noctua pronuba is a moth the type species for the family Noctuidae It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic realm one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range Large yellow underwingScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraSuperfamily NoctuoideaFamily NoctuidaeGenus NoctuaSpecies N pronubaBinomial nameNoctua pronuba Linnaeus 1758 SynonymsPhalaena Noctua pronuba Linnaeus 1758 Noctua connuba Hubner 1822 Triphaena innuba Treitschke 1825 Triphaena pronuba var hoegei Herrich Schaffer 1861 Agrotis pronuba var nigra Krausse 1912 Rhyacia pronuba f decolorata Turati 1923CaterpillarIt is also present in Europe North Africa Canary Islands Middle East Turkey Iraq Iran Afghanistan northwest India Russia Novosibirsk Oblast Caucasus Transcaucasia and Central Asia It was introduced into North America at Nova Scotia Since then it has increased its range considerably and has been recorded for Maine since 1985 and then spread throughout the northeast from Vermont and Massachusetts 1989 to New Hampshire 1990 New York Maryland 1992 and Connecticut 1993 It was first recorded in Pennsylvania in 1998 North Carolina 1997 and west to Colorado 1999 Wyoming 2000 Washington 2000 California 2001 British Columbia 2002 and Alaska 2005 1 This is a quite large and heavy moth with a wingspan of 50 60 mm The forewings are quite variable from light brown to almost black The darker individuals often have a pale streak along the costa The hindwings are bright orange yellow with a black sub terminal band As with other Noctua species and numerous other insects this contrast of bland on land and bright in flight is used to confuse potential predators This species flies at night from July to September 1 and is attracted to light sometimes in huge numbers It will also visit flowers such as Buddleia ragwort and red valerian The larva is green or brown with two rows of black dashes along the back This is one of the notorious cutworms causing fatal damage at the base of virtually any herbaceous plant some examples listed below sometimes severing it completely This ubiquitous species is considered as a garden pest The species overwinters as a larva and feeds on mild days throughout the winter Contents 1 Description in Meyrick 2 Recorded food plants 3 References 4 External linksDescription in Meyrick editA pronuba L 48 56 mm Antennae in male ciliated Forewings ochreous brown to dark fuscous sometimes reddish tinged sometimes partly irrorated with grey whitish especially towards costa anteriorly lines often paler dark edged sometimes faint subterminal preceded on costa by a blackish mark orbicular and reniform more or less pale edged outlined with darker reniform partly marked with dark grey Hindwings ochreous orange a blackish terminal band Larva pale green to dull brown dorsal line pale subdorsal series of blackish longitudinal marks on 5 12 a pale line beneath these subspiracular pale head light brown dark marked 2 See Noctua orbona the lunar yellow underwing and Noctua comes lesser yellow underwing for differences between these species and pronuba The flight season refers to the British Isles This may vary in other parts of the range Recorded food plants editAllium Beta beet Brassica Calendula marigold Chrysanthemum Dahlia Daucus carrot Dianthus carnation Fragaria strawberry Freesia Gladiolus Hieracium hawkweed Lactuca lettuce Lycopersicon tomato Plantago plantain Poaceae grasses Primula Rhubarb Solanum nightshades including potato Pepper and tomato plants Spinach Taraxacum dandelion Viola sweet violet Vitis grape See Robinson G S et al 3 nbsp On forest floor of Gatineau Park Quebec nbsp Mounted adult specimen nbsp Caterpillar nbsp Caterpillar in defensive postureReferences edit David Lentz Jr 2006 Invasive Moth Spreads throughout Southeast Alaska PDF Southeast District Update University of Alaska Fairbanks p 6 Archived from the original PDF on 20 August 2016 Retrieved 11 July 2016 Meyrick E 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan London pdf nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Robinson G S P R Ackery I J Kitching G W Beccaloni amp L M Hernandez 2010 HOSTS A Database of the World s Lepidopteran Hostplants Natural History Museum London Chinery Michael 1986 Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe Skinner Bernard 1984 Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Noctua pronuba Lepiforum Noctua pronuba at funet fi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Large yellow underwing amp oldid 1189079833, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
