Neumichtis nigerrima

Neumichtis nigerrima (Guenée, 1852)
(previously known as : Syntheta nigerrima)
Black Noctuid
AMPHIPYRINAE , NOCTUIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Neumichtis nigerrima
(Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda)

This Caterpillar is initially green with pale stripes. Later the stripes are replaced by speckles with two bright yellow spots on the last abdominal segment. Mature instars mat be brown.

(Photo: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

It is an agricultural pest, attacking

Turnips ( Brassica rapa, BRASSICACEAE ),

Sugar Beet ( Beta vulgaris, CHENOPODIACEAE ),

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum, SOLANACEAE).

Clover ( Trifolium, FABACEAE ), and

Grass pasture ( POACEAE ).

dark specimen
(Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria)

The forewings of the adult moth vary from dark brown to black. On the paler specimens, a pattern of light and dark brown may be discernible. The hind wings are pale with wide black borders.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Underneath: the wings are pale grey, darkening towards the margins. The moth has a wingspan of about 4 cms.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria)

The species occurs across Australia, including:

Victoria, and

female, listed as Eumichtis extima
Illustration number 16, in Plate CIV of Hampson's Noctuidae of the British Museum, 1903-1913.
(Courtesy of Joe Kunkel, University of Massachusetts)

Further reading :

David Carter,
Butterflies and Moths, Collins Eyewitness Handbooks, Sydney 1992, p. 258.

Ian F.B. Common,
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 65, 461, 465, 467.

Pat and Mike Coupar,
Flying Colours, New South Wales University Press, Sydney 1992, p. 76.

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(updated 22 October 2011)