Noctuid Moths (family Noctuidae) on Jun 21, 2008
Submitter has sample
Description of specimen
Found as chrysalis in garden soil. Allowed to completley pupate for simpler ID. The closest I can key it out is as a 'Large Yellow Underwing'. According to the internet they are a recent(last 3 years) arrival in the Pacific Northwest from Europe. Found numerous chrysalae of similar type in garden soil...only collected a single specimen.
Noctua pronuba European cutworm moth first collected in Oregon in 2002 (http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/plant_ann_rep05_ippm.shtml). Also see http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=9362. The other species is Noctua comes (see http://www.goodbugs.prosser.wsu.edu/grapes.htm) and is also from Europe and has been known to be in Oregon for 3+ years."
Lisa DeBruyckere
June 22, 2008, 1:28 a.m.