| Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759)) |
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Scientific name: Noctua fimbriata (Schreber, 1759) Common name: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing French name: Frangée, Noctuelle frangée Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Noctuidae Subfamily: Noctuinae Wingspan: 45-55 mm. Biotope: Open woodlands, woodland edges, bushy places with trees, parks and gardens. Geographic area: Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus. Flight time: June to October. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Yellowish brown, greyish brown or reddish brown. The underside of the body is a paler colour. The upper side shows a pale median line with dark patches on both sides. These patches are better marked at the rear. The white spiracles are circled with black. It is impossible to tell caterpillars of the Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) and those of Noctua tirrenica apart. Host plant: Many shrubs and low growing plants. |
The ground colour of the female's fore wings is pale brown, pale reddish brown or pale greenish brown. Males are brighter coloured, reddish or green. The drawing pattern on the upper side of the fore wings is rather typical of the two species (fimbriata and tirrenica). The hind wings are bright yellow with a wide black submarginal band. The hind wings are not visible when the moth is at rest. The fore wings are held one on the other, the outer edges being almost parallel. The bright yellow colour of the hind wings is then only visible in flight. Noctua tirrenica has only been declared as a separate species in 1983. An under side view is required to tell both species apart. The costal and marginal zones of the under side of the fore wings, the costal zone of the under side of the hind wings and the under side of the abdomen tip are a very pale colour on Noctua tirrenica. At least one of these zones is dark coloured on the Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. The range of Noctua tirrenica covers the Mediterranean regions and extends northwards to the centre of France (to be checked for an eventual northern extension ...). The Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing is attracted to light. It over winters as a caterpillar. |
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As far as I know, the range of Noctua tirrenica does not extend northwards to the region of Paris. That's why I have classified this caterpillar as Noctua fimbriata. Now I have to observe an imago. As I do not do any capture, I will have very low chances to observe the underside of the wings ... |
André Bon July 2012