| Agrotis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Heart and dart, Agrotis exclamationis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Subtribe: | Agrotina |
| Genus: | Agrotis Ochsenheimer, 1816 |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Agrotis is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. The genus was erected by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816. A number of the species of this genus are extinct.
The proboscis is well developed. Palpi obliquely porrect (extending forward), where the second joint evenly scaled and third joint prominent. Thorax and abdomen without tufts. Abdomen somewhat flattened. Tibia very strongly spined. Forewings with non-crenulate outer margin. Hindwings with veins 3 and 4 from cell. [1]
Many of the species are of great importance as cutworms, major agricultural pests whose larvae hide by day and emerge at night to feed. The name cutworm refers to the habit of the larvae, of cutting down and partly eating garden and crop plants, especially seedlings. [2] Not all cutworms are in the genus Agrotis, though it may well be the genus that includes the largest number of cutworm species, and the most agriculturally important cutworm species.
The bogong moth, itself a cutworm, also has been of importance as a seasonal food for humans, valued by indigenous Australians.
Acronicta is a genus of noctuid moths containing about 150 species distributed mainly in the temperate Holarctic, with some in adjacent subtropical regions. The genus was erected by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Caterpillars of most Acronicta species are unmistakable, with brightly colored hairy spikes, and often feed quite visibly on common foliate trees. The hairy spikes may contain poison, which cause itchy, painful, swollen rash in humans on contact. The larva of the smeared dagger moth is unusually hairy even for this genus. Acronicta species are generally known as dagger moths, as most have one or more black dagger-shaped markings on their forewing uppersides. But some species have a conspicuous dark ring marking instead.
Apamea is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae first described by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816.
Acontia is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. The genus was named by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816. Eusceptis, Pseudalypia and Spragueia are sometimes included in the present genus, but here they are tentatively treated as different pending further research. Many species of Tarache were also once placed here.
Dichagyris is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae. The former genera Loxagrotis, Pseudorichia, Pseudorthosia and Mesembragrotis are now considered subgenera of Dichagyris. From Greek dikha-gyris 'apart, asunder; double' + 'the finest meal or flour'; English pronunciation: /digh-kuh-JIGH-riss/, IPA [dɑj•kə'dʒɑj•ɹɪs].
Euxoa is a genus of moths of the family Noctuidae raised to Genus by the German entomologist, Jacob Hübner. The Genus is mostly confined to dry and semi dry areas in the Northern Hemisphere. There 130 species in Eurasia, a few in Africa, and 175 in North America. There are no species in the Genus in South-East Asia or in Australia. In North America, most species are found in Western regions. Of the North American species, 4 are endemic to Mexico. There is one species recorded from Chile, but this may be a mislabeled specimen. In real terms, species numbers do not equal species abundance. Some areas with few species have large numbers of the ones that do live there.
