Moths in the Noctuidae family 2

Species featured on this page
Latin name	Common name	Family
Apamea monoglypha	Dark arches	Noctuidae
Hypena proboscidalis	Snout	Noctuidae
Acronicta rumicis	Knot grass	Noctuidae

Noctuidae family overview

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.

Dark arches, Apamea monoglypha

The Dark arches, above, is common throughout Europe in meadows and grassy areas.

The eggs are laid in July and hatch in around 10 days.

The caterpillar is up to 45 mm long, shiny, pale-coloured with black dots, black plates and legs, and a shiny black head. Its foodplants are grasses. The caterpillars feed at night from August to the following May or June at the base of grass stems, and hide during the day.

Pupation is in the soil and under stones in May to July.

Adults emerge in June and July. Adult colouration varies considerable in shade.

Hypena proboscidalis, the Snout

Common throughout Britain in open woodland, hedgerows, gardens and waste ground.

Eggs are laid in July and August.

Caterpillars. The caterpillars eat nettles until August, then hibernates over the winter, emerging next spring and pupating in June. Length is up to 25 mm, and is variable in colour from a yellowish green to a dark green with lighter bands between segments, and white lines along the back and sides.

Adult. It is the palps which stick out in front and form the "snout". They tend to fly at night in June, July and August. In the south there may be a second generation in the autumn. During the day they rest, often in nettles which are the larval foodplant. Wingspan is 31 - 39 mm.

The Snout, Hypena proboscidalis, adult Noctuid moth

Knot grass caterpillar, Acronicta rumicis

Acronicta rumicis, the Knot grass

The Knot grass is widespread in Europe.

The eggs are laid in batches on the foodplant (see below) in May and August and hatch in around a week.

The caterpillar is found in hedgerows, waste ground, meadows and gardens, and when fully grown has a body length of up to 38 mm. The foodplants include plantains, docks, bramble, thistles, hops, sallow and hawthorn. Caterpillars hatching in August overwinter and pupate the following spring to hatch as adults in May. Caterpillars hatching in May/June pupate in summer, and the adult moth emerges in August.

Moths in the Noctuidae family 2

Species featured on this page

Noctuidae family overview

Dark arches, Apamea monoglypha

Hypena proboscidalis, the Snout

Acronicta rumicis, the Knot grass