Noctuidae : Xyleninae
Lunar Underwing
OMPHALOSCELIS lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
Lunar Underwing
OMPHALOSCELIS lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
Description
Wingspan: 32-37mm
Worldwide Distribution: Western Europe
UK Distribution: England and Wales-Widespread and frequent : Northern England and Scotland-Local : Ireland,Isle of Man & Channel Isles-Widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Grassland habitats : Gardens : Downland : Parkland
Similar Species -
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The two diagnostic features of this moth are the subterminal line is shown as a series of black dots and the forewing is covered in light veins making this a very easy moth to identify.
The ground colour of this moth varies greatly between very light through to dark brownish grey,yellowish brown,reddish brown to black.
The stigmata and orbicular spot are very prominent in all ground colours and are edged with dark brown.
The moth is a regular visitor to the moth trap and is attracted to sugar in smaller numbers.The moth being a late visitor to the garden takes advantage of the Ivy blossom and overripe Blackberries.
Worldwide Distribution: Western Europe
UK Distribution: England and Wales-Widespread and frequent : Northern England and Scotland-Local : Ireland,Isle of Man & Channel Isles-Widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- W Europe only
- Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
- Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
- England-Norfolk
Habitat: Grassland habitats : Gardens : Downland : Parkland
Similar Species -
- None
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The two diagnostic features of this moth are the subterminal line is shown as a series of black dots and the forewing is covered in light veins making this a very easy moth to identify.
The ground colour of this moth varies greatly between very light through to dark brownish grey,yellowish brown,reddish brown to black.
The stigmata and orbicular spot are very prominent in all ground colours and are edged with dark brown.
The moth is a regular visitor to the moth trap and is attracted to sugar in smaller numbers.The moth being a late visitor to the garden takes advantage of the Ivy blossom and overripe Blackberries.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
- Dactylis glomerata - Cock's-foot - Orchard grass
- Holcus lanatus - Yorkshire-fog
- Poa annua - Annual Meadow Grass
- Dactylis glomerata - Cock's-foot - Orchard grass
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Subtribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - OMPHALOSCELIS: Original Species Name: Species Names: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Xyleninae Xylenini Xylenina OMPHALOSCELIS Hampson 1906 Omphaloscelis lunosa (Haworth, 1809) - Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809) - NOCTUA lunosa (Haworth, 1809) = Orthosia subjecta Duponchel, 1836. - AGROCHOLA Hübner 1821 = Omphaloscelis Hampson 1906 - Lepidoptera Britannica (3): Title Page : p.230 - n.203 - England-Norfolk |