Noctua
- noun
- Specialized
:
Noctua
- Farmers often watch for Noctua larvae, which can damage crops as cutworms.
Examples
-
In the garden, we spotted a Noctua fluttering near the flowers at dusk.
-
The Noctua moth is known for its distinctive patterns and colors.
-
About a third of these are deliberate introductions, such as the Little Owl (Athene noctua), while the others are natural colonizations that may be taking advantage of climate change.
Academic text (2004)
Synonyms
A group of moths whose caterpillars are army cutworms
A group of moths whose caterpillars, called armyworms, eat farm crops
A group of moths whose caterpillars eat crops and can be pests
A group of moths that includes kinds that damage crops
A group of moth species called antler moths
Compounds
- Specialized
A small owl found in Europe and parts of Asia with a rounded head and bright yellow eyes
Surface Forms
Etymology
Noctua comes from the Latin word noctua meaning 'little owl' and the root noct- meaning 'night', the same root you see in nocturnal. So the name helps you remember that these moths are active at night, like owls.
