noctuid n : usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pests [syn: noctuid moth, owlet moth]

The Noctuidae or Owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species, possibly 100,000 species altogether, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera.

Their distribution is worldwide with about 1,450 species found in Europe

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 emitted 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.

The Noctuidae are remarkable for containing an extraordinary number of species whose caterpillars are able to feed on certain poisonous plants without harm. These foodplants - namely Solanaceae (e.g. Nicotiana) and Fabaceae (e.g. Sophora) - contain chemicals that would kill most insects trying to feed on them.

Systematics

Division into subfamilies, and the number of subfamilies is unsatisfactory and varies somewhat in various taxonomical systems. Several moth genera are not yet robustly assigned to subfamilies:

• Anaphela
• Axiopoeniella
• Calpoparia
• Carpostalagma
• Galtarodes
• Grammarctia
• Laelapia
• Macrobarasa
• Parasoloe
• Phaegorista
• Plectothripa
• Procanthia
• Proschaliphora
• Soloe
• Soloella
• Talhoukia

However recent molecular studies have shown that the family Noctuidae is paraphyletic. The subfamily Plusiinae should be raised to family status. The Noctuidae sensu stricto should be confined to trifines. The quadrifid noctuid subfamilies are paraphyletic (or perhaps polyphyletic) and should be grouped in a clade with the Arctiidae and Lymantriidae. The terms trifid and quadrifid refer to the number of veins from the lower part of the hindwing midcell.

See list of noctuid genera.

Notable species

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)
• Spodoptera cilium (Dark Mottled Willow, Lawn Caterpillar or Grasslawn Armyworm)
• Spodoptera exempta (African Armyworm)
• Spodoptera exigua (Beet Armyworm)
• Spodoptera littoralis (African or Egyptian Cotton Leafworm)

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))

References