![]() The Spanish moth feeding on Amaryllis sp. ![]() Female pheromones that attract males occur widely and have long been studied, but the study of male pheromones has further to go. Most noctuid moths produce pheromones that attract the opposite gender. Īs is common in members of the order Lepidoptera, courtship in many Noctuidae includes a set of movements in which the female evaluates the male's reproductive fitness. They also seek other liquid food resources such as plant juices, honeydew, dung, urea and mud, among others. Nectarivory and puddling: Like many Lepidoptera, many species of adult Noctuidae visit flowers for their nectar. Moreover, many noctuid larvae, such as those of the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda) and of genera such as Heliothis and Helicoverpa, aggressively eat their siblings and often other species of caterpillar. One such species is the shivering pinion ( Lithophane querquera), whose larvae commonly feed on other lepidopteran larvae. Predation and cannibalism: During the larval stage, some cutworms readily feed on other insects. Herbivory: Caterpillars of most Noctuidae feed on plants some feed on poisonous plants and are unaffected by their chemical defences for example, the splendid brocade moth ( Lacanobia splendens) feeds on cowbane ( Cicuta virosa), a plant that is notoriously toxic to vertebrates. The eight-spotted forester moth ( Alypia octomaculata) puddling on water from a leaf of firebush ( Croton lucidus). The names "armyworms" and "cutworms" are based on the behavior of the larvae of this group, which can occur in destructive swarms and cut the stems of plants. The common name " owlet" originally means a small or young owl. The word Noctuidae is derived from the name of the type genus Noctua, which is the Latin name for the little owl, and the patronymic suffix -idae used typically to form taxonomic family names in animals. When they newly pupate they are bright brownish orange, but after a few days start to get darker.Įggs: Vary in colors, but all have a spherical shape. ![]() Pupa: The pupae most often range from shiny brown to dark brown. Most are pudgy and smooth with rounded short heads and few setae, but there are some exceptions in some subfamilies (e.g. Larva: Commonly green or brown some species present bright colors, such as the camphorweed cucullia moth ( Cucullia alfarata). Crossbands or crosslines may be present, oriented longitudinally from the leading to the trailing edge of the wing. It is often not possible to discern all of the stigmata on all specimens or species. These are followed distally by a reniform (kidney-shaped) stigma, which is typically oriented with its concave side facing the wing's outer edge. From the basal location to the outer edge (proximal to distal) on the forewing, there is a claviform (club-shaped) stigma, horizontally oriented with the thicker end closer to the wing's outer edge, located posterior to a discal (round) stigma. Markings present on the wings of noctuid adults can be helpful in distinguishing species. Another characteristic in this group is trifine hindwing venation, by reduction or absence of the second medial vein (M2). It functions to keep parasites ( Acari) out of the tympanal cavity. They are characterized by a structure in the metathorax called the nodular sclerite or epaulette, which separates the tympanum and the conjunctiva in the tympanal organ. This classification is still contingent, as more changes continue to appear between Noctuidae and Erebidae.Īdult: Most noctuid adults have drab wings, but some subfamilies, such as Acronictinae and Agaristinae, are very colorful, especially those from tropical regions (e.g. Currently, Noctuidae is the second largest family in Noctuoidea, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. It was considered the largest family in Lepidoptera for a long time, but after regrouping Lymantriinae, Catocalinae and Calpinae within the family Erebidae, the latter holds this title now. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other families of the Noctuoidea. The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. ![]() Acontiinae Guenée, 1841 Acronictinae Harris, 1841 Aediinae Agaristinae Boisduval, 1833 Amphipyrinae Guenée, 1837 Bagisarinae Crumb, 1956 Balsinae Grote, 1896 Bryophilinae Guenée, 1852 Cobubathinae Wagner & Keegan, 2021 Condicinae Poole, 1995 Cropiinae Keegan & Wagner, 2021 Cuculliinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1850 Dilobinae Dyopsinae Eriopinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1851 Eucocytiinae Eustrotiinae Grote, 1882 Grotellinae Heliothinae Boisduval, 1828 Metoponiinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1851 Noctuinae Latreille, 1809 Oncocnemidinae Forbes & Franclemont, 1954 Pantheinae Smith, 1898 Plusiinae Boisduval, 1828 Raphiinae Stiriinae ![]()
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