Cucullia lactucae
| Cucullia lactucae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Cucullia |
| Species: | C. lactucae |
| Binomial name | |
| Cucullia lactucae (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Lettuce Shark (Cucullia lactucae) is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in most of Europe, Turkey, the Altai mountains and the Caucasus.
Caterpillar (orange form)
Caterpillar (yellow form)
The wingspan is 44–53 mm. Adults are on wing from May to July in one generation in most of the range. In the south, there is a second generation with adults on wing from August to September.
The larvae feed on Asteraceae species, Sonchus arvensis, Sonchus asper, Lactuca sativa and Lactuca muralis.