Lunar Underwing

Lunar Underwing
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Omphaloscelis
Species:	O. lunosa
Binomial name
Omphaloscelis lunosa Haworth, 1809

The Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It has a scattered distribution in western Europe and Scandinavia.

Illustration from John Curtis's British Entomology Volume 5

This is a variable species, the forewings ranging from pale buff to dark brown although the paler forms are generally more common. The forewings are usually marked with two dark stigmata and a black streak near the apex. The hindwings are whitish marked with dark patches which are rather fancifully likened to a lunar landscape. The wingspan is 32-38 mm. This moth flies at night from August to October ^[1] and is attracted to light and flowers.

The larva feeds on all parts of various grasses, overwintering in this form.

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984