Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Noctua (moth)

Noctua is a genus of moths. They have dull, cryptic forewings and often very bright hindwings. These are hidden under the forewings when the moths rest, leading to their common name of yellow underwings. They are not particularly closely related to the "true" underwing moths (Catocala) though, apart from both being Noctuoidea. They are good fliers.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
295 w
Citations
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Source
Noctua
Noctua janthe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Tribe: Noctuini
Genus: Noctua
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Phalaena pronuba
Linnaeus, 17581
Synonyms12

Noctua (Latin for "little owl") is a genus of moths. They have dull, cryptic forewings and often very bright hindwings. These are hidden under the forewings when the moths rest, leading to their common name of yellow underwings. They are not particularly closely related to the "true" underwing moths (Catocala) though, apart from both being Noctuoidea (and in the traditional classification, Noctuidae). They are good fliers.

Species

Noctua comparison

References

References

  1. "Genus: Noctua Linnaeus, 1758 . Systema Naturae (Edn 10) 1 : 508". Butterflies and Moths of the World Generic Names and their Type-species. Natural History Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  2. "Noctua Linnaeus, 1758". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  • Noctua at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms