NOCTUIDAE of Australia Cutworms, Armyworms, Whistling Moths, Underwings NOCTUOIDEA

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

NOCTUIDAE eggs

NOCTUIDAE caterpillars

NOCTUIDAE pupae

NOCTUIDAE moths

NOCTUIDAE undersides

NOCTUIDAE forewings

NOCTUIDAE has approximately 500 named Australian species, here listed in the subfamilies of NOCTUIDAE :-

ACONTIINAE 80 species

ACRONICTINAE 143 species

AGARISTINAE 42 species

BAGISARINAE 5 species

CUCULLIINAE 1 species

DYOPSINAE 1 species

HADENINAE 62 species

HELIOTHINAE 42 species

NOCTUINAE 33 species

PLUSIINAE 16 species

STIRIINAE 2 species

The Caterpillars of NOCTUIDAE are usually smooth, lacking obvious hairs. Their bodies are often green, brown or yellow, and striped longitudinally.

Most species of NOCTUIDAE pupate in the soil, although a few pupate in a sparse cocoon under a leaf of their foodplant.

The adults mainly fly at night, feeding on nectar from flowers. Their nocturnal habits gave the family its latin name. Some of the adults have metallic-looking markings on their wings. but most have dull coloured wings.

Note that although the Checklist of Australian Lepidoptera includes the subfamilies NOLINAE ,   CHLOEPHORINAE , and   SARROTHRIPINAE in NOCTUIDAE , we are following the more recent book A Guide to Australian Moths so here we list these subfamilies in NOLIDAE.

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(updated 31 May 2014, 2 December 2024)