Lunar Underwing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Omphaloscelis lunosa Lunar Underwing | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Omphaloscelis |
| Species: | O. lunosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Omphaloscelis lunosa Haworth, 1809 | |
The Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It has a scattered distribution in western Europe and Scandinavia.
Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 5
This is a variable species, the forewings ranging from pale buff to dark brown although the paler forms are generally more common. The forewings are usually marked with two dark stigmata and a black streak near the apex. The hindwings are whitish marked with dark patches which are rather fancifully likened to a lunar landscape. The wingspan is 32–38 mm. This moth flies at night from August to October and is attracted to light and flowers.
The larva feeds on all parts of various grasses, overwintering in this form.
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
References
- Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
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