Noctua interjecta (Schawerda, 1919)

Description: Wingspan 31-36 mm. This is much smaller than the other 'yellow underwings' Forewings normally reddish brown or clay coloured; with poorly defined stigmata and crosslines and a dark subterminal line. Hindwings deep yellow with a broad black band.

Key Identification Features:

• Smaller size
• Reddish forewings with dark-coloured subterminal line
• Yellow hindwings with black band; no lunules

Sets:

Flight Period: End of July to early September.

Status: Until recently this species was considered to be rather scarce and only reliably found in a few localities mainly on the south east coast around the Dundrum area. Recent fieldwork over the last several years has shown that is widespread across southern parts of N. Ireland. Recent records include Monmurray, Garvary Wood, Tattenallen Bog and Crom, Fermanagh; also recorded from Rostrevor and Killard Point National Nature Reserve, Down. Baynes makes reference to an early 19th century record from Glenarm, Antrim.

Ecology: Recorded from coastal heaths, dunes, woodland and a few bogs. Adults are attracted to light in small numbers and also to the flowers of Ragwort Senecio jacobaea and lavender. The larvae feed from September until May on grasses and various herbaceous plants. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Western Palaearctic throughout north and central Europe.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2112 Agassiz number: 73.346

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: