Large yellow underwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large yellow underwing |
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The large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) is a type of moth. It is the main species for its family, called Noctuidae. This moth is very common in many parts of Europe and Asia. It is one of the most well-known moths in these areas. Sometimes, many of these moths travel long distances to new places.
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Where These Moths Live
This moth lives in many places around the world. You can find it in Europe, North Africa, the Canary Islands, the Middle East, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and northwest India. It also lives in Russia, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia.
The large yellow underwing moth was brought to North America in Nova Scotia. Since then, it has spread to many other places. It was seen in Maine in 1985. Then it moved across the northeast to Vermont and Massachusetts (1989), New Hampshire (1990), New York (1992), Maryland (1992), and Connecticut (1993). It was first seen in Pennsylvania in 1998. It also spread to North Carolina (1997) and west to Colorado (1999), Wyoming (2000), California (2001), British Columbia (2002), Alaska (2005), and Ontario (2017).
What the Moth Looks Like
This moth is quite big and heavy. Its wingspan (how wide its wings are when spread out) is about 50 to 60 millimeters. The front wings can be different colors. They range from light brown to almost black. Darker moths often have a pale stripe along the front edge of their wings.
The back wings are a bright orange-yellow color. They have a black band near the edge. Like other Noctua moths, this bright color helps to confuse animals that might want to eat them. When the moth is resting, its dull front wings help it blend in. But when it flies, the bright back wings flash, surprising predators.
Life Cycle and Habits
This moth flies at night, usually from July to September. It is often attracted to lights, sometimes in very large numbers. It also likes to visit flowers to drink nectar. Some of its favorite flowers include Buddleia, ragwort, and red valerian.
The Caterpillar Stage
The young moth, called a larva or caterpillar, can be green or brown. It has two rows of black marks along its back. These caterpillars are known as "cutworms." They can cause a lot of damage to plants. They often chew through the base of almost any soft-stemmed plant, sometimes cutting it off completely. Because they eat so many different plants, these caterpillars are often seen as garden pests. The caterpillar spends the winter as a larva. It keeps eating on mild days throughout the winter.
What They Eat
The caterpillars of the large yellow underwing moth eat many different kinds of plants. Here are some of the plants they have been seen eating:
Images for kids
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On forest floor of Gatineau Park, Quebec
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Mounted adult specimen
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Caterpillar
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Caterpillar in defensive posture
See also
In Spanish: Noctua pronuba para niños
