73.348 : 2111 : 10,103
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

NOCTUA janthe (Borkhausen, 1792)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 34-44mm
Worldwide Distribution: South-west Europe : W Europe : South Finland : South Sweden : Denmark : Morocco : Algeria : Tunisia.
UK Distribution: Resident : Common throughout Britain,Ireland & Isle of Man and as far north in Scotland as the Shetland Isles : Channel Isles-widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena janthe Borkhausen, 1792
Type Species - Noctua
  • Phalaena pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • "Föhrenwald near Darmstadt" ("Pine forest near Darmstadt")
Flight Period: South-Mid June-Late September : Elsewere-Late July-early September
Habitat: Wide range of habitats used including-Gardens : Woodland : Heathland : Moorland : Hedgerows
Similar Species:-
  • Langmaid's Yellow Underwing Noctua janthina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Larva: September-May : Feeds at night,hiding by day in leaf litter : Another of the "Yellow Underwings" with wide variation in larval colours ranging from orange,through buff and light brown.Descriptions are similar to Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing larva with the exception of the buff and light brown larva not having black spiracle spots but with the addition of two inward facing black triangles towards the anal clasper when viewed from above.These do not occur in the orang coloured larva.
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Part grown larva close to the ground
Observations: The Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe and Langmaid's Yellow Underwing N. janthina were only separated as different species in 1991 where shortly afterwards the first specimen was discovered in Southsea on the south coast.
The extent of the black marginal hindwing band is broader and complete on "Langmaid's" leaving the yellow "underwing" as a small central patch.Final confirmation on "Langmaid's" is a black finger like projection into the yellow underside when viewed from underneath adjacent to the anal area.
The Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing N. janthe is unlike any other of the Yellow Underwings.
When fresh this moth displays a bright red costal streak which finishes close to the forewing apex.

The moth is a regular visitor to the light trap and is also attracted to sugar and to flowers.
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
Kingdom:
Subkingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - NOCTUA:

Original Species Name:
Species Names:


Literary Ref:


Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
NOCTUA Linnaeus, 1758
Noctua janthe Borkhausen,1792
-
Phalaena pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758)
-
PHALAENA janthe Borkhausen, 1792
= Triphaena janthina intermedia Rothschild, 1920
= Noctua janthina Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
-
Naturgeschichte der europäischen Schmetterlinge ... v. 4. Borkhausen, Moritz Balthasar, 1760-1806. : Title Page : p.111/112 - n.43
-
"Föhrenwald near Darmstadt"