Thursday 4 December 2008

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

OTHER NAMES: Winter Cutworm, European Yellow Underwing
Latin Etymology: Noctua ("night bird") pronuba ("maid of honour")
Adult Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) at Geddington, Northants - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Wingspan: 50-60mm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

One of the most common large moths within it's range, the large yellow underwing is a species which feeds on grasses and various herbaceous vegetation.  Originally a native of Eurasia, it has accidentally been introduced to North America where it is now a potentially destructive invasive species which can occur in what is described as "massive, epidemic outbreak numbers" in suitable habitats.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Noctuidae 
Genus: Noctua 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM A fairly common resident
 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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