73.342 : 2107 : 10.096
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

Large Yellow Underwing

NOCTUA pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 45-55mm
Worldwide Distribution:  Europe : North Africa : Canary Islands : Middle East : Turkey : Iraq : Iran : Afghanistan : North-west India : Caucusus : Transcaucasia : Central Asia : Introduced into North America at Nova Scotia where it has been extending its range since.
UK Distribution: Resident and Immigrant : Common,widespread and abundant throughout Great Britain
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status - 
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Noctua
  • Phalaena pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: June-November-Peaking in August/September
Habitat: Found everywhere : Gardens : Woodland : Lowland grassy habitat : High Moorland
Similar Species:-
  • Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona (Hufnagel, 1766)
Ova: Deposited from July onwards in large batches on grasses or similar vegetation
Larva: The 50mm long final instar larva is colour variable with one being green,another copper colour and a third copper and black.Viewed from above there are two buff lateral lines with individual black markings at the from of each abdominal segment.The two copper coloured larvae have a central lateral line across the spiracles in buff or copper colour.The green larva only has the black abdominal segment markings.
In the South the larva can be found from late August through to the following June where it feeds at night,hiding underground during the day.
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Larva underground
Observations: Although similar in appearance to the Lunar Yellow Underwing N.orbona the Large Yellow Underwing N. pronuba as the name suggests is usually much larger. Although both species have apical streaks the Large Yellow Underwing lacks the hindwing discal spot.
Although the moth is variable it does have distinctive long narrow forewings with a black costal mark near to apex.The hindwings have a narrow black band with no dark crescent or clouding found in other yellow underwings.
The male forewing tends to be ruddy or blackish brown with few markings or paler reddish brown with grey costal streak.Female usually light brown and not marbled.

At the height of the flight season the moth tends to be the bane of the moth light trapper as it has been known for thousands to arrive in a single evening.
The Large Yellow Underwing is an avid feeder of sugar or flowers, spending many hours at a time in this pursuit.
The moth is easily disturbed during the day from vegetation,flying very rapidly like other underwings.

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
Taxonomy
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Type Species - NOCTUA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
NOCTUA Linnaeus, 1758
Noctua pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758) 
= Noctua connuba Hübner, [1822]
= Triphaena innuba Treitschke, 1825.
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.512 - n.87
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Not Specified