Lesser Yellow Underwing

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The Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe. It is a common species but not as abundant as its larger relative Large Yellow Underwing.

Related Topics:
Moth - Noctuidae - Europe - Large Yellow Underwing

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This species generally has the appearance of a "scaled-down" (wingspan 38-48 mm) version of the Large Yellow Underwing. The forewings are equally variable, from light brown to almost black and it also has orange-yellow hindwings with a black sub-terminal band. The hindwings also have a black discal spot, usually absent from the larger species. It flies at night from July to September* and is attracted to light and flowers such as heather, marram grass and ragwort.

Related Topics:
Wingspan - Flower - Heather - Marram grass - Ragwort

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The larva is also very similar to that of Large Yellow Underwing, green or brown with black dashes along the back. Its feeding habits, however, are very different: this is not a "cutworm" but feeds on the foliage of a range of plants, trees and shrubs as well as herbaceous plants (see list below). This species overwinters as a larva.

Related Topics:
Larva - Tree - Shrub - Herbaceous

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• The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
 
Lesser Yellow Underwing: Recorded food plants ►