noctuid

English

Noctua fimbriata, a noctuid

Etymology

From translingual Noctuidae.

Noun

noctuid (plural noctuids)

1. Any moth in the species-rich family Noctuidae or the superfamily Noctuoidea.
   • 1916, British Columbia Provincial Museum, Report of the Provincial Museum of Natural History, page 462:

     Mr. H. McKnight, who resides at Goldstream, took a number of noctuids in September, feeding on hops.

   • 1981, T. M. Casey, “Insect Flight Energetics”, in Clyde F. Herreid II, Charles R. Fourtner, editors, Locomotion and Energetics in Arthropods, page 432:

     The total wing area of these moths were essentially the same (geometrids = 3.8 cm²; noctuids = 3.6. cm²). Consequently, wing-loading of the noctuids was about twice as high as in the geometrids.

   • 1993, Thomas C.R. White, The Inadequate Environment: Nitrogen and the Abundance of Animals, page 76:

     Noctuids are renowned for their propensity for carnivory in general, and for cannibalism in particular (Gould et al. 1980).

Synonyms

• owlet moth

Translations

moth of the family Noctuidae — see owlet moth

Anagrams

• conduit, duction