73.193 : 2270 : 9591
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Lunar Underwing

OMPHALOSCELIS lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
Picture
Picture
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 -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • W Europe only
Original Species Name -
  • Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
Type Species - Omphaloscelis
  • Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
Type Locality -
  • England-Norfolk
Flight Period: South-late August to early November : Elsewhere-Late August to early October
Habitat: Grassland habitats : Gardens : Downland : Parkland
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: Viewed from side-dark brown lateral line through the spiracles with adjacent row of dark brown spots. Below and above this line larva is light brown.Viewed from top-wide lateral band in dark brown with thin light coloured thin lateral line running through the centre. Larva has occasional rows of dark brown spots. Larva feeds by night and shelters well down in the growth by day.
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.
Larval Food Plants
Picture
Dactylis glomerata - Cock's-foot - Orchard grass
Taxonomy
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Type Species - OMPHALOSCELIS:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Xylenini
Xylenina
OMPHALOSCELIS Hampson 1906
Omphaloscelis lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
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Noctua lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
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NOCTUA lunosa (Haworth, 1809)
= Orthosia subjecta Duponchel, 1836.
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AGROCHOLA Hübner 1821
= Omphaloscelis Hampson 1906
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Lepidoptera Britannica (3): Title Page : p.230 - n.203
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England-Norfolk