MOTHS OF THE GRENADINES
SPECIES LISTS BY FAMILY
Noctuidae
GENERAL FAMILY DESCRIPTION
The Noctuidae are the largest family of moths worldwide, with over
21,000 species described. They vary in size from ten millimetres in
wingspan to 20 centimetres or more, although with only a few exceptions
they are dull moths with grey, brown or black wings and few obvious markings.
Two marks on the forewing - one circular and one kidney-shaped - are often
diagnostic. Many noctuids have larvae which are serious agricultural pests.
The family is divided up into numerous subfamilies whose characteristics
are at present poorly defined. The major work by Poole (1989) catalogues
all of the world's known species of Noctuidae: I follow his nomenclature.
I am grateful
to M. Bernard Lalanne-Cassou of INRA, Paris, for his help with identification of many
of my Noctuids, where noted. (The large number of remaining mistakes are mine
and not his!)
SUBFAMILIES present in the Grenadines: (click on link to go to species list for that subfamily)
ACONTIINAE
AMPHIPYRINAE
CATOCALINAE
HADENINAE
HELIOTHINAE
HERMINIINAE
NOCTUINAE
OPHIDERINAE
PLUSIINAE
SARROTHRIPINAE
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