Moths in the Noctuidae family
Main Lepidoptera page

Noctuidae family.

There are 22 000 species worldwide, and over 400 species in the UK alone. Many are of economic importance as they include the cutworms and army worms. Adults are usually brown or grey, but some have brilliantly coloured underwings which they flash when disturbed. Adults are often called the Owlets. Wingspan ranges from 30 - 50 mm. Adults have a pair of hearing organs (tympana), one of each side of the thorax. The moths themselves do not make any noise, but the tympana allow them to detect the high-pitched sounds made by echo-locating bats, which are a major predator.

Silver Y

Right and below is the Silver Y moth, Autographa gamma. So-called because of the white mark clearly seen on its front wings. It is a member of the Noctuidae family. It is abundant in the UK and Europe, and flies both day and night. Its wingspan in 4 cm. Though it is abundant it cannot overwinter in the UK, and is most commonly seen flying in the autumn. The larva has only two pairs of prolegs and feeds on almost any kind of plant. It pupates in a black silk cocoon attached to the foodplant. It overwinters in southern Europe and as the weather warms migrates as far north as the Arctic Circle. In the UK it has two generations per year. Eggs are laid in May and August, however the the eggs laid in August do not survive to breed as adults. The eggs are pale and shiny and vary in colour from green to dark olive.

Antler moth

Left Cerapteryx graminis, the antler moth. It is a member of the Noctuidae family. This is a male. It is found throughout Europe. The eggs are pale and shiny. The caterpillars hatch in spring and as its name suggests food plans are coarse grasses and rushes from March - June. Then they pupate in the soil. It is commonly found on acid moorland. The wingspan is 3 cm. The adults fly in July and August at night, but also during the day.

Square-spot rustic

Right is a preserved specimen of Xestia xanthographa, Noctuidea, the square-spot rustic. It is found in open habitats on grasses and low vegetation. Its wingspan is 32 - 35 mm, and the adult is seen flying in August and September. The wings vary from whitish-brown through red and greyish-brown to almost black. The caterpillars are nocturnal and feed in winter, mainly on grasses. They prepare a pupal cell underground in May, but do not actually pupate until July.

Large yellow underwing

On the left are two caterpillars of Noctua pronuba, the Large yellow underwing. It is found throughout Europe, and in the U.K. is common in lowlands. The caterpillar grows to around 50 mm, and is variable in colour from bright green to dull brown. All have dark brown bars along the back, and the head also has dark brown bars. Usually it is found by digging in the soil because it hides there during the day, emerging at night to eat the leaves and stems of dandelion, chickweed, dock, grasses and many other low-growing plants. There is one generation per year. The white eggs are laid in batches on the underside of the leaf of a foodplant in July. They hatch in August, feed until the winter, then hibernate as caterpillars. They emerge next spring, pupate in the soil in May. The pupae are chestnut brown, and the beautiful moth emerges to mate in June or July and flies until October.

Below is the typical Noctuidae caterpillar body.

Mother Shipton, Callistege mi

This beautiful moth is found throughout Europe. The caterpillar is up to 40 mm long, and thin like a looper with just 3 pairs of prolegs. It feeds on clover and similar plants. There is one generation a year. The eggs are laid in June and hatch after 3 weeks. In September they pupate and overwinter. The adults emerge the following year in May or June.