It had a tan head capsule. The caterpillar of this moth is commonly known as a cutworm and is a common pest of tomato, potato, carrot, strawberry, grape, onions, spinach, mustard and grass. Abundant throughout the Palearctic ecozone, Europe, the Middle East, and unfortunately introduced to North America in the 1980’s, the winter cutworm moth is one of the largest moths that I’m covering today. Underwing Moth, common name for a diverse group of large moths with distinctive wing patterns. The only similar species, the Lesser Yellow Underwing, is always smaller. The larvae (caterpillars) feed on a wide array of… Continue reading → A final instar caterpillar of the Large Yellow Underwing moth ready to hibernate over winter. Natter’s Notes Noctua pronuba, the Winter Cutworm Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener Winter cutworms, also known as Large Yellow Underwings, were first identified in Oregon about 2001. It was 4-5cm long. Eggs: Spherical and pale yellow when freshly laid, darkening slightly with age. If you are interested you'll find them here: Large Yellow Underwing Caterpillar. The larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants and grasses; this caterpillar was found on a Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in a garden in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. Noctua pronuba "Large Yellow Underwing" Although it is called the "Yellow Underwing" the underwings of this moth are typically a bright orange. Plodia interpunctella "Indian Meal Moth" We kept it captive so as to identify it and I've now got a series of photos showing it's development. Laid beneath leaves of plants in large clusters in areas of overgrowth. Well-known member. The large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) is a moth, the type species for the family Noctuidae.It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic realm, one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region.In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range. Noctua pronuba, ‘Large Yellow Underwing’, ‘Winter Cutworm’. I saw this caterpillar on the road. Larvae: Cutworms are usually green, brown, grey, or yellow soft-bodied caterpillars, often with black longitudinal stripes or dashes, and semi-circles, measuring up to 2.5cm in length. From July onwards the eggs are being laid, often in large groups, on grasses and other low plants. The striped caterpillar that is crawling along the surface of fresh snow is the larval stage of a noctuid or owlet moth known as the Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba).Noctuids are dull-colored, medium-sized, nocturnal moths that are attracted to lights in the summer. Since then, they have raised a ruckus in home gardens, lawns, pastures, and agricultural fields during the winter. The caterpillar will start feeding again early next year before pupating just under the soil in a silken cocoon. The young caterpillars are active during the day. Source. Noctua pronuba. There are more than 200 species of underwings, the majority occurring in eastern North America. Large Yellow Underwing Larvae Crawling On Snow. The Large Yellow Underwing has a wingspan ranging from 5 to 6 cm. The great plantsman E.A. May 22, 2004 #1 In April we accidentally dug up a caterpillar while weeding the rose bed. What is it?– Sean Gavin, Ballyconneely, Co Galway It is the caterpillar of the garden tiger moth. Bowles mentioned their destructive habits in My Garden in Spring, the first in his trilogy of books about his garden in Middlesex. They don't hatch till the end of August or September. 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