Noctuidae

Noctuidae
Flame Shoulder, Ochropleura plecta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Suborder:	Ditrysia
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
(unranked):	Macrolepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae Latreille, 1809
Type species
Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing)
Subfamilies
Acontiinae Acronictinae Aganainae Agaristinae Amphipyrinae Bagisarinae Bryophilinae Calpinae Catocalinae Cocytiinae Condicinae Cuculliinae Dilobinae Eucocytiinae Eustrotiinae Euteliinae Glottulinae Hadeninae Heliothinae Herminiinae Hypeninae Ipimorphinae Noctuinae Ophiderinae Plusiinae Psaphidinae Raphiinae Stictopterinae Stiriinae Strepsimaninae Ufeinae
Diversity
4,200 genera 35,000 species

The Noctuidae or Owlets are a family of robustly-built moths with more than 35,000 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.

Some of the family are preyed upon by bats. However, these members have developed an evasive system whereby upon hearing the high pitched note which is emmitted by the bat to locate its prey, a tiny organ in the ear sends muscles in the wings into spasm - causing the moth to dart around erratically. This random movement has the effect of evading the incoming bat.

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):

Acronictinae

• Acronicta aceris (The Sycamore)
• Acronicta leporina (The Miller)
• Acronicta megacephala (Poplar Grey)
• Acronicta tridens (Dark Dagger)
• Acronicta psi (Grey Dagger)
• Cryphia domestica (Marbled Beauty)

Amphipyrinae

• Amphipyra berbera (Svensson's Copper Underwing)
• Amphipyra pyramidea (Copper Underwing)
• Amphipyra tragopoginis (Mouse Moth)

Catocalinae

• Catocala aholibah (Aholibah Underwing)
• Catocala nupta (Red Underwing)

Cuculliinae

• Cucullia umbratica (The Shark)

Hadeninae

• Discestra trifolii (The Nutmeg)
• Mamestra brassicae (Cabbage Moth)
• Melanchra persicariae (Dot Moth)
• Lacanobia oleracea (Bright-line Brown-eye)
• Hecatera bicolorata (Broad-barred White)
• Hadena bicruris (The Lychnis)
• Cerapteryx graminis (Antler Moth)
• Panolis flammea (Pine Beauty)
• Orthosia cerasi (Common Quaker)
• Orthosia gothica (Hebrew Character)
• Mythimna ferrago (The Clay)
• Mythimna impura (Smoky Wainscot)
• Mythimna pallens (Common Wainscot)
• Leucania comma (Shoulder-striped Wainscot)

Heliothinae

• Helicoverpa zea (Cotton bollworm)
• Schinia varix

Ipimorphinae

• Cosmia trapezina (The Dun-bar)
• Apamea monoglypha (Dark Arches)
• Apamea crenata (Clouded-bordered Brindle)
• Apamea remissa(Dusky Brocade)
• Apamea sordens (Rustic Shoulder-knot)
• Brachylomia viminalis (Minor Shoulder-knot)
• Aporophyla lueneburgensis (Northern Deep-brown Dart)
• Antitype chi (Grey Chi)
• Eupsilia transversa (The Satellite)
• Agrochola circellaris (The Brick)
• Thalpophila matura (Straw Underwing)
• Euplexia lucipara (Small Angle Shades)
• Phlogophora meticulosa (Angle Shades)

Noctuinae

• Noctua pronuba (Large Yellow Underwing)
• Noctua comes (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
• Noctua janthina (Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing)
• Eugnorisma glareosa (Autumnal Rustic)
• Lycophotia porphyrea (True Lover's Knot)
• Diarsia mendica (Ingrailed Clay)
• Diarsia rubi (Small Square-spot)
• Xestia c-nigrum (Setaceous Hebrew Character)
• Xestia triangulum (Double Square-spot)
• Xestia sexstrigata (Six-striped Rustic)
• Xestia xanthographa (Square-spot Rustic)
• Naenia typica (The Gothic)
• Euxoa nigricans (Garden Dart)
• Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth)
• Agrotis segetum (Turnip Moth)
• Agrotis clavis (Heart and Club)
• Agrotis exclamationis (Heart and Dart)
• Ochropleura plecta (Flame Shoulder)

Plusiinae

• Autographa gamma (Silver Y)

Additional examples:

• Apina callisto (Pasture Day Moth)
• Axylia putris (The Flame)
• Omphaloscelis lunosa (Lunar Underwing)
• Ascalapha odorata (Black Witch Moth)
• Thysania agrippina (White Witch (moth))