Moths That
moths fly at
night is understandable. Nevertheless
there are about hundred
species, which fly by day and sometimes also are beautiful coloured.
A characteristic of moths are the long feelers,
or antennaeare
unclubbed at the end.They are oftencomb-like or feathery, or filamentous. Most
moths have no bright colours (brown, grey, white or black) and often with
patterns of which help camouflage them during the day. Moths
tend to have stout and hairy bodies to conserve heat during the cooler nights.
There’s a coupling of the forewing with the hindwing. Unlike
moths, butterflies generally hold their wings together above their backs when
resting.
Noctuidae
or Owlet moths A family of robustly-built moths. In
the Netherlands there are about 350 species. Most
have drab forewings, although some have brightly coloured hindwings.Many caterpillars live in the soil.
I tried
to split up the owled moths in the subfamilies and tribes. That was not easy. It is apparently a difficult group, because
the subfamilies are often changed. In 2011, for example, a new family Erebidae
is made. I read that, some authors merge the tribe Xestiini with the tribe
Noctuinae.
Familie uilen, nachtuiltjes(noctuidae).
Subfamily Acronictinae.
Tribe Acronictini.
Coronet (Craniophora ligustri). Tribe Acronictini.
Onderfamilie Acronictinae. Family
Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
Sometimes olive-green suffusion to the darker parts of the forewing.
They live mainly on wild privet, ash and lilac.
It is found in Europe. Especially on sandy soils.
Wingspan: 30 - 40 mm.
April - September. Two generations
Caterpillars: June - October.
The species hibernates as
a pupa
German: Admiral French: Vulcain
Subfamily
Amphipyrinae.
Uncertain(Hoplodrina octogenaria, synonym Hoplodrina
alsines). Subfamily Amphipyrinae.
Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
It
resembles the Rustic. But the spots on the wings are smaller. The caterpillar
feeds at night on many different herbaceous plants. By day he hides, like the caterpillar in the picture. It hibernates as a caterpillar. He pupate in the soil.
Wingspan: 28 to 34 mm.
May- August. One generation.
There are several species in the Netherlands. Namely: Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda.)
Hoplodrina octogenaria, Hoplodrina Ambigua and the (in the netherlands) rare
Hoplodrina respersa. The caterpillar is Hoplodrina spec. Maybe Uncertain.
Photos 15-7-2011
Photos 20-3-2011
Subfamily Noctuinae.
Tribe Noctuini.
Large
Yellow Underwing(Noctua
pronuba).
Family Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
A quite large moth. I found it in the kitchen. When I put it outside. I
made a photo, when it rested for a moment on the chestnut. Then I have
made this photo. The forewings are
quite variable from light brown to almost black. The hindwings are bright
orange-yellow with a black sub-terminal band. If
it flies away, it confuses the predators.
It is a common butterfly in the Netherlands.
Flying time: May to
September. The species hibernates as
a caterpillar and feeds on plants likerubus, nettle and
dandelion.
Photo 18-8-2010 Here you can see the bright orange-yellow hindwings.
German: Hausmutter French:
Fiancée
Tribe Xestiini.
Black-spot
Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa) Tribe Xestiini. Subfamily
Noctuinae. Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths. Features:
On the wings ate two black spots divided by light coloured veins. Length
of the forewings 15 - 16 mm.
In the Netherlands the Black-spot Chestnut was not a common species, but
it has greatly expanded.
The larvae feed on leaves of various trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Wins the exchange is from October to May The caterpillars from May to June.
If it's not too cold, you see these moths also flying in winter. The moth in the picture I found in
our house. It was hard to get a good picture because it was very cloudy. I thought
the moth was not doing well. But after I had took the photographs it flew into a tree.
Chestnut (Conistra
vaccinii) Tribe
Xestiini. Subfamily Noctuinae. Family
Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
The markings and colouring of this moth is very variable. Light brown,
dark brown or deep chestnut brown. Smooth,
marbled, speckled or striped. Therefore it is particulary distinguished by the distinctive
rounded wing shape.
The moth on this photo has a dark spot on the wings.
The larva feed on various deciduous shrubs and trees. But also in
herbaceous plants. (in later stages)
The chestnut hibernates in the adult stage. End of February it flies again.
(depending on weather)
Wingspan 28 - 36 mm.
September - May. One generation.
Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
German: Heidelbeer-Wintereule
Dun-bar
(Cosmia trapezina). Tribe Xestiini. Subfamily Noctuinae. Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
This owl was hidden in the holly. I tried to catch it, after I had made this picture.
(To make a better photo) It escaped, however.
It is variable in color, but easily recognized by the cross lines. Usually
yellow brown. But there are also greyish and reddish species.
The caterpillar feeds on leaves but also on other caterpillars. Especially leaf roller caterpillars.
It lives in trees and shrubs.
Wingspan: 25 to 33 mm.
July to September. One generation. The species overwinters as an egg. Photo 11-7-2011
German:
Trapezeule French: Trapèze
Setaceous Hebrew Character
(Xestia c-nigrum). Tribe
Xestiini. Subfamily Noctuinae. Family
Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
It got its name because of the black mark on the forewings resembling the
Hebrew letter Nun. The forewings are reddish brown. The hind wings are yellowish white.
It looks like the Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica). But this moth
flies in March and April.
It is a common butterfly throughout Europe and in North America.
The caterpillars overwinter and mature in April.
April - October. Two generations.
Wingspan 35 - 45mm
German: Schwarze C, Schwarze C-Erdeule, C-Eule French:
C noir
Double Square-spot
(Xestia triangulum). Tribe Xestiini. Subfamily Noctuinae. Family Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
The double square-spot has pale
brown forewings marked with two distinctive black marks. It
flies at night in June and July.
It is in Europe a common species. It hibernates as a
larva. In autumnthe larvae can be found on lower
plants, like Dock and Dandelion.
The brownish caterpillar
is feeding on a wide variety of plants including birch, blackthorn,
bramble, raspberry.
Wingspan 36 - 46 mm
German: Triangel-Bodeneule Triangel-Erdeule French:
La Noctuelle de la Chélidoine
Square-spot
Rustic (Xestia xanthographa). Tribe Xestiini. Subfamily Noctuinae. Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
The bright spot on the wings of
the Square-spot Rustic is the square or has the shape of an X. The colour of the wing is light brown to black or brown.
It overwinters as a caterpillar.
Caterpillar host plant: herbaceous plants and grasses.
Wingspan 30-40 mm.
Flight time: July to October. One generation.
Caterpillar: September - May
Photos 6-4-2010
Photo's 24-9-2011
Subfamily Plusiinae.
Tribe Plusiini.
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis). Tribe Plusiini. Subfamily
Plusiinae. Family
Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
A beautiful moth which his name has been given by the metallic sheen.
The head and crest are striking orange. Behind is a small orange crest.
A few times you see it during the day. This Saturday it was hidden between the
leaves, but it remained calm when I photographed it.
Wingspan 28 to 35 mm.
May to October. Two generations. (sometimes three)
Widespread across
Europe
Caterpillars: June, July and also in autumn and spring, because the
caterpillars overwinter.
They live in a variety of herbaceous plants. E.g. nettle, deadnettle.
Photos 28-6-2009.
German: Messingeule French: Plusie
vert-doré
Silver
Y (Autographa gamma). Tribe
Plusiini. Subfamily Plusiinae.Family Noctuidae
or Owlet moths.
It is of course named
for the silvery Y-shaped mark on its forewings.
It an appetite butterfly is. It is a migratory moth. In
spring they arrive from the south in the Netherlands. In the autumn some
moths fly south again.
They can’t survive the winter. The larvae feed on a wide range of low plants.
By day it also visit flowers.
Widespread across
Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa.
Wingspan 35 - 45mm
German: Gammaeule
Subamily
Scoliopteryginae.
Tribe
Scoliopterygini.
The
Herald (Scoliopteryx
libatrix). Tribe Scoliopterygini.
Familie Scoliopteryginae. Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
Features: Greyish brown with orange spots. Along that spot is a black and white spotted vein. Four prominent
small white spots. The lower edge of the wing is jagged. The male has
comb-like antennae.
You can find him in a wooded area but also in gardens. They often overwinter inside garages, attics, etc.
This butterfly was stuck in cobwebs. After it was released, I put it on a chair for a few pictures. Then I have
removed the cobwebs from the legs. It remained very quiet and then it flew away unharmed.
Host caterpillars: including willow and poplar.
Wingspan 44-48 mm. Flight: After hibernation: April to June. Next Generation: July-October.
Caterpillar : May to September. Europe, Asia,
North Africa, North America.
Photos 6-6-2010 German: Zackeneule, Zimteule French:
Family
Erebidae.
The
moths in the new family Erebidae (2011) were formely classified in the family
Noctuidae, Arctiidae and Lymantriidae. (A re-classification)
Onderfamilie Hypeninae.
Buttoned
snout (Hypena rostalis) Subfamily Hypeninae. Family Erebidae.
This is a new family. (2011) Before 2011 it belonged to the family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
I had not recognized this moth as an owl. I thought of a grass moth. Tymo thanks for the help.
It sat on a jacket. Because the bad weather that week it was impossible to
take photos. That's why it stayed one week in a box with a lump of sugar with honey.
Features: A small light brown moth. The markings are variable. The moth on the
photo is almost without markings and uniform coloured. The long snout is formed by long palps. Compared with other snout moths
it has slender wings.
Caterpillar host plant: hop. But also nettles, blackberries and raspberries.
Wingspan 27-32 mm.
The adult moth overwinters. Flight: After hibernation: from March to June. Next generation: from August to October.
Europe, Asia Minor.
Photo 2-3-2011.
Caterpillars.
Subfamily
Amphipyrinae.
Copper
Underwing (Amphipyra
pyramidea). Subfamily Amphipyrinae. Family Noctuidae or Owlet moths.
Only the caterpillar. The moth is very similar to the
Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera svensson).
The green caterpillars have white markings and a pointed hump at the
rear end. They pupate on the ground. It overwinters as an egg.
Here you will find pictures of the Copper
Underwing.
Host plants of the caterpillar: Deciduous trees and shrubs like oak, birch, privet, honeysuckle.
Wingspan 40-52 mm.
Flight time: July to October. One generation.
Caterpillar: April - June
Photo 21-5-2010
The caterpillar I found in May among the withered leaves on the ground. By day it hides. At night it is searching for food. Host plants of the caterpillar ivy, nettles and nettle.
Flight
time:
April - November. Two generations.
Wingspan 45 -52 mm.
Nederlands /
Dutch
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