Noctua comes

Hübner, 1813

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Noctua comes, the Lesser Underwing, is a common characterized by and bright yellow with a black . in a single from June to October. are that feed nocturnally close to the ground, damaging stems. The is to Britain and Ireland but has been to North America where it can become a pest. Its of 540.7 Mb has been sequenced and assembled into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Noctua comes: //ˈnɔk.tu.a ˈkɔ.mɛs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from similar Noctua by the combination of and with a distinct black . The forewing pattern is relatively plain compared to some . Similar to the Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), but generally smaller with differences in forewing markings. Accurate identification may require examination of or molecular methods.

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Habitat

Found in most throughout Britain and Ireland, including woodlands, grasslands, and urban areas. The specimen used for sequencing was collected from Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK. In North America, occurs in agricultural and disturbed habitats where it has been .

Distribution

to Britain and Ireland. to North America where established occur. GBIF records indicate presence in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and Africa, though native status in these regions requires verification.

Seasonality

Single on the from June to October. present from August through May, feeding nocturnally during this period.

Diet

feed on a wide range of small trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants including common nettle (Urtica dioica), broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), sallow (Salix spp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus), broom (Cytisus scoparius), and heather (Calluna vulgaris). In North America, larvae also feed on (Nicotiana spp.) and (Vitis spp.). feeding habits not documented.

Host Associations

  • Urtica dioica - larval
  • Rumex obtusifolius - larval
  • Digitalis purpurea - larval
  • Crataegus monogyna - larval
  • Prunus spinosa - larval
  • Salix spp. - larval
  • Rubus fruticosus - larval
  • Cytisus scoparius - larval
  • Calluna vulgaris - larval
  • Nicotiana spp. - larval North America only
  • Vitis spp. - larval North America only

Life Cycle

Single per year. June to October. laid during period; feed from August through May. occurs in soil. WZ system with female heterogamety.

Behavior

exhibit , feeding close to the ground and damaging stems at the base. detect ultrasonic waves and perform evasive maneuvers to avoid bat . Can distinguish between the frequency of sound produced by metal or plastic rings on bats versus actual bat calls.

Ecological Role

Important item for bats, including the Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis myotis) and Lesser Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis blythii). As a in larval stage, contributes to and dynamics.

Human Relevance

In North America, can be agricultural pests, particularly affecting and . sequencing provides resources for research on biology, pest management, and evolutionary studies.

Similar Taxa

  • Noctua pronubaSimilar coloration; distinguished by larger size and different pattern
  • Noctua jantheClosely related with overlapping distribution; requires careful examination of patterns and for separation

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Sources and further reading