Appearance
This species generally has the appearance of a smaller version of the large yellow underwing "Noctua pronuba". The forewings are equally variable in pattern and colour, from pale clay to reddish clay, light brown to almost black.The stigmata are dark and outlined with pale yellow.The crosslines are weak. The wavy line flows on to the front edge as a no more than dark brown stain, which is sometimes extended down the enire wavy line.The hind-wings are orange-yellow with a broad black sub-terminal band band and central discal lunule.It is also similar to the lunar yellow underwing "Noctua orbona". In the overall impression a broad-winged species.It flies at night from July to September and is attracted to light and flowers such as heather, marram grass, and ragwort.
Food
The larva is also very similar to that of "Noctua pronuba" – green or brown with black dashes along the back. Its feeding habits, however, are very different: this is not a "cutworm" but feeds on the foliage of a range of plants, trees, and shrubs as well as herbaceous plants. This species overwinters as a larva.References:
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