Noctuidae
Guides
Goya n-sp
Goya n-sp is a newly described species of moth in the family Noctuidae (subfamily Erebidae). The specific epithet "n-sp" indicates this is a placeholder designation for a species not yet formally named. The genus Goya is part of the diverse moth fauna documented in taxonomic publications. No detailed biological information has been published for this particular species.
Graphiphora
Graphiphora is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae. The genus contains at least one recognized species, Graphiphora augur. These moths are classified within the subfamily Noctuinae, a diverse group of predominantly nocturnal Lepidoptera. The genus was established by Ochsenheimer in 1816.
Grotella binda
Grotella binda is a noctuid moth species described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1907. It belongs to the genus Grotella within the subfamily Grotellinae. The species is documented from North America, with Arizona as its type locality. Like other members of its genus, it is a small to medium-sized moth active at night.
Grotella blanca
Grotella blanca is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes in 1904. It belongs to the genus Grotella, which comprises small to medium-sized nocturnal moths. The species is known from North America with its type locality in Arizona.
Grotella dis
Grotella dis is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Grotella, which is endemic to North America. The species is characterized by distinctive white coloration with black markings on the forewing costa. It is found in arid and semi-arid regions from Kansas southward into northern Mexico.
Grotella margueritaria
Grotella margueritaria is a small noctuid moth described by André Blanchard in 1968 from Texas. The species is known from few records and remains poorly documented in scientific literature. Its wingspan measures 26–27 mm.
Grotella soror
Grotella soror is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. It is a North American species with its type locality in Arizona. The species belongs to the genus Grotella, a small group of moths within the subfamily Grotellinae. Like other members of its genus, it is nocturnal and attracted to ultraviolet light sources.
Grotella tricolor
A small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 20–23 mm. Adults are active from August to September. The species was first described by William Barnes in 1904.
Grotella vauriae
Grotella vauriae is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, first described by Rowland R. McElvare in 1950. The species is known from Texas, which serves as its type locality. It belongs to the genus Grotella, a group of owlet moths within the subfamily Grotellinae. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this species.
Hada
Hada is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae (owlet moths), first described by Billberg in 1820. Species in this genus are classified within the tribe Hadenini and subfamily Noctuinae. The genus has been recorded from northern Europe, with distribution records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Like other noctuid moths, adults are primarily nocturnal.
Hada sutrina
Sutrina Moth
Hada sutrina is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Grote in 1881. It occurs across North America, with documented records from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 10324, a standard identifier used in North American moth classification. As a member of the subfamily Noctuinae, it belongs to a diverse group of primarily nocturnal moths whose larvae are commonly known as cutworms.
Hadena
Hadena is a genus of noctuid moths comprising approximately 143–149 species, with the majority distributed across the Palearctic realm and about fifteen species native to North America. The genus was erected by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1802. Members are characterized by hairy eyes, upturned palpi with long hairs, and short broad wings. Larvae typically feed on seeds of Caryophyllaceae, and adults of some species function as pollinators of Silene.
Hadena capsularis
Capsule Moth
Hadena capsularis, commonly known as the capsule moth, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Guenée in 1852. The species is native to North America, with confirmed records from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Hadena circumvadis
cutworm moth, dart moth
Hadena circumvadis is a noctuid moth species described by Smith in 1902. It belongs to the tribe Hadenini, a group commonly known as cutworm or dart moths. The species is documented from the Canadian Prairie provinces with limited observational records.
Hadena ectypa
Campion Coronet, Creeping Lady's Tress
Hadena ectypa is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Campion Coronet. The species is native to North America and was first described by Morrison in 1875. It belongs to the genus Hadena, a group of moths whose larvae often feed on the seeds of Caryophyllaceae plants.
Hadena lafontainei
Lafontaine's Hadena
Hadena lafontainei is a noctuid moth described by Troubridge and Crabo in 2002. The species is named in honor of Canadian lepidopterist J. Donald Lafontaine. It belongs to the diverse genus Hadena, which includes many species associated with flowering plants.
Hadenella
Hadenella is a monotypic genus of noctuid moths established by Grote in 1883. The sole species, Hadenella pergentilis, occurs in western North American sage steppe habitats from the Pacific Northwest and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains to Utah and Colorado, and along the Pacific Coast to southern California.
Hadenella pergentilis
Hadenella pergentilis is a noctuid moth and the sole species in its genus. It occurs in western North America from the Pacific Northwest and Canadian prairies south through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and Utah, with coastal populations in southern California. The species is associated with sage steppe habitats. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883.
Hadenini
cutworm moths, dart moths
Hadenini is a tribe of moths within the family Noctuidae, commonly known as cutworms or dart moths. The tribe comprises over 140 genera and approximately 1,000 described species distributed worldwide. Hadenini was historically classified within the subfamily Hadeninae, but following taxonomic revision, both were transferred to Noctuinae. The tribe includes economically significant species whose larvae are climbing cutworms that feed on woody shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Hecatera dysodea
Small Ranunculus
Hecatera dysodea, the Small Ranunculus, is a noctuid moth native to Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. It has been introduced to North America, where it was first detected in Utah in 1998 and Oregon in 2005. The species has experienced local extinction and recolonisation in Britain, where it disappeared by the 1930s and was rediscovered in Kent in 1997. Adults are attracted to light and visit flowers, particularly of lettuce species.
Helicoverpa
Heliothine moths, bollworms, earworms
Helicoverpa is a genus of noctuid moths established by David F. Hardwick in 1965. Several species rank among the world's most destructive agricultural pests, particularly H. armigera (cotton bollworm), H. zea (corn earworm/cotton bollworm), and H. punctigera. These species exhibit long-distance migration capabilities, with H. armigera recently expanding from the Old World into the Americas and threatening to establish in the continental United States. The genus is notable for rapid evolution of insecticide resistance, including documented introgression of resistance genes between sibling species H. zea and invasive H. armigera.
Helicoverpa zea
corn earworm, cotton bollworm, tomato fruitworm, soybean podworm
Helicoverpa zea is a major agricultural pest moth native to the Americas. The larvae are highly polyphagous, feeding on reproductive structures of numerous crop plants including corn, cotton, tomato, and soybean. The species has developed widespread resistance to many insecticides and Bt toxins. Adults are nocturnal seasonal migrants capable of traveling hundreds of kilometers on wind currents. Recent hybridization with the invasive Old World bollworm (H. armigera) has introduced additional resistance genes through introgression.
Heliocheilus
Heliocheilus is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Heliothinae, established by Grote in 1865. The genus contains species distributed across multiple continents, with at least one species, Heliocheilus albipunctella, recognized as a significant agricultural pest of pearl millet in sub-Saharan Africa. Formerly known as Canthylidia, this genus is part of a diverse group of noctuid moths with varied ecological roles.
Heliocheilus julia
Barbie Moth
Heliocheilus julia is a noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1883. The species is known from limited geographic records in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its life history remains undocumented, including unknown larval host plants and immature stages. Adults are attracted to lights and fly during late summer. The proposed common name "Barbie Moth" has not achieved formal recognition.
Heliocheilus paradoxus
Paradoxical Grass Moth
Heliocheilus paradoxus, commonly known as the paradoxical grass moth, is a species of noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1865. It belongs to the subfamily Heliothinae within the family Noctuidae. The species has been documented across a broad North American range spanning southern Canada to the southern United States.
Heliocheilus toralis
Heliocheilus toralis is a small noctuid moth found in arid regions of the southwestern United States. The species was described by Grote in 1881 and is characterized by a wingspan of 23–25 mm. It belongs to the subfamily Heliothinae, a group whose larvae often feed on developing seeds.
Heliolonche
Heliolonche is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Heliothinae, established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. The genus comprises five recognized species distributed in western North America. Species in this genus are small noctuids with distinctive wing patterns. The genus name derives from Greek roots suggesting sun and spear, though the etymological significance is unclear.
Heliolonche carolus
Chicory Flower Moth
Heliolonche carolus is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1936. It is commonly known as the Chicory Flower Moth. The species is recorded from western North America, specifically California and Arizona. As a member of the subfamily Heliothinae, it is likely associated with flowering plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Heliolonche pictipennis
Red-lined Moth
Heliolonche pictipennis, commonly known as the Red-lined Moth, is a small noctuid moth species described by Grote in 1875. It is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in California and Arizona. The species has a wingspan of 16–17 mm. Larvae are known to feed on specific host plants including Malacothrix glabrata and Rafinesquia neomexicana.
Heliothis acesias
Acesias Buff Gem
Heliothis acesias is a moth in the family Noctuidae, distributed across western and central North America from Nevada and Idaho north to Alberta, then east to Ontario. Adults are active from June through September. The species was previously confused with Heliothis phloxiphaga but is distinguished by yellower and broader forewings.
Heliothis belladonna
Heliothis belladonna is a noctuid moth described by Henry Edwards in 1881. The species is known from North America, with records from Washington state. As a member of the subfamily Heliothinae, it belongs to a group that includes many agricultural pest species, though specific ecological details for H. belladonna remain poorly documented.
Heliothis borealis
Boreal Gem Moth, Boreal Gem
Heliothis borealis is a small noctuid moth native to northern North America. First described by George Hampson in 1903, it inhabits boreal and montane regions from Quebec to Alberta, with disjunct populations extending southward in the Rocky Mountains to southwestern Montana. Adults fly in late spring and early summer. Larval biology remains poorly documented, with feeding habits inferred from related Heliothis species.
Heliothis oregonica
Oregon Gem Moth
Heliothis oregonica, commonly known as the Oregon Gem Moth, is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. First described by Henry Edwards in 1875, this small moth exhibits a disjunct distribution pattern across North America, with populations in western mountain regions and an isolated occurrence in Quebec. Adults are active during summer months.
Heliothodes
Heliothodes is a small genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Heliothinae, containing two described species: H. diminutivus and H. joaquin. The genus was established by Hampson in 1908. At least one species, Heliothodes diminutiva, is a specialist herbivore of tarweed (Madia elegans) in California, where its caterpillars feed on developing flower buds and can completely sterilize host plants.
Heliothodes diminutiva
Small Heliothodes Moth
Heliothodes diminutiva is a small owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, native to western North America. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed on the reproductive structures of tarweed (Madia elegans), a sticky annual plant in the Asteraceae family. Adult females lay eggs on developing flower buds, and emerging caterpillars can consume all flowers and buds, potentially sterilizing host plants. This species has been extensively studied in the context of plant indirect defense mechanisms, where trapped insect carrion on sticky plants attracts predators that reduce herbivory.
Helotropha
Helotropha is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Lederer in 1857. The genus contains two recognized species: Helotropha leucostigma and Helotropha reniformis. These moths are classified within the subfamily Noctuinae, a large and diverse group of owlet moths. The genus is primarily documented from northern European regions.
Helotropha reniformis
reniform celaena, Kidney-spotted Rustic Moth
Helotropha reniformis, commonly known as the reniform celaena or Kidney-spotted Rustic Moth, is a noctuid moth described by Grote in 1874. It is native to North America with documented records across Canada and the northern United States. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9453.
Hemibryomima
Hemibryomima is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Noctuinae. It was established by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1927. The genus contains two recognized species: Hemibryomima chryselectra (Grote, 1880) and Hemibryomima olivaria (Hampson, 1918). Both species are North American in distribution.
Hemieuxoa rudens
Creaky Dart
Hemieuxoa rudens is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Creaky Dart. It is native to North America and belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, which includes many cutworm and dart moth species. The species was originally described as Agrotis rudens by Harvey in 1875 before being transferred to the genus Hemieuxoa.
Hemigrotella
Hemigrotella is a monotypic moth genus in the family Noctuidae, containing the single species Hemigrotella argenteostriata. The genus was described in 1918 by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough. It is endemic to southern California. The genus belongs to the tribe Psaphidini within the subfamily Amphipyrinae.
Heminocloa
Heminocloa is a monotypic genus of owlet moths (Noctuidae) established by Barnes and Benjamin in 1924. It contains a single species, Heminocloa mirabilis, first described by Neumoegen in 1884. The genus is restricted to Arizona, United States.
Heminocloa mirabilis
Heminocloa mirabilis is a moth species and the sole member of its monotypic genus within the family Noctuidae. Originally described as Basilodes mirabilis by Berthold Neumoegen in 1884, it was later placed in the genus Heminocloa erected by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1924. The species is known only from the US state of Arizona, with 69 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Hemioslaria pima
Hemioslaria pima is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, representing the sole member of its monotypic genus. The species was first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1924. It is known only from the US state of Arizona, with 47 documented observations on iNaturalist. The genus and species are classified within the subfamily Acontiinae and tribe Chamaecleini.
Hemipachnobia
Hemipachnobia is a small genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Noctuinae, established by James Halliday McDunnough in 1929. The genus contains two recognized species: H. monochromatea (Morrison, 1874) and H. subporphyrea (Walker, 1858). It is native to North America with documented occurrences in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. As a noctuine noctuid, its members are presumed to be nocturnal and possess the characteristic stout-bodied, cryptically colored morphology typical of this diverse moth family.
Hemipachnobia monochromatea
Sundew Cutworm Moth, Sundew Dart
A small to medium-sized noctuid moth found in wetland habitats across northern North America. The common name references an association with sundew plants (Drosera), though the nature of this relationship remains unclear. Adults are active in late summer and early autumn. The species is among the more obscure members of the cutworm moth group, with limited biological documentation.
Hexorthodes accurata
cutworm moth, dart moth
Hexorthodes accurata is a species of noctuid moth described by H. Edwards in 1882. It is classified among the cutworm or dart moths, a group known for their robust bodies and soil-associated larval habits. The species is documented from North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 10601 for North American Lepidoptera inventory purposes.
Hexorthodes agrotiformis
Hexorthodes agrotiformis is a species of noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. The species belongs to a small genus of moths distributed in North America. It is one of approximately 18 species in the genus Hexorthodes, which are generally associated with grassland and prairie habitats. The specific epithet "agrotiformis" references its resemblance to moths in the genus Agrotis.
Hexorthodes catalina
Hexorthodes catalina is a noctuid moth species described from the Santa Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona. The species epithet references this type locality. As a member of the genus Hexorthodes, it belongs to a group of moths within the family Noctuidae. Specific ecological details about this species remain limited in published literature.
Hexorthodes emendata
cutworm moth, dart moth
Hexorthodes emendata is a species of noctuid moth described in 1985. It belongs to the cutworm and dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is recorded from North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 10603.2 for North American moth classification. Published observations of this species remain limited.
Hexorthodes inconspicua
Hexorthodes inconspicua is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Grote in 1883. It belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae and tribe Eriopygini. The species is found in North America. Available records indicate it has been documented through 36 observations on iNaturalist, though detailed biological information remains limited.