Autophila anaphanes cypriaca (Boursin, 1940) - Endemic to Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Endemic to Cyprus
Autophila anaphanes is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, including the Balkans, Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon and Israel.

There is one generation per year. Adults are on wing from April to June.

The larvae feed on Genista and Ulex species.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Pomos 12.12.2015 by George Konstantinou

Problepsis ocellata (Frivaldszky, 1845) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family Geometridae

Problepsis ocellata is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in Andorra, Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Turkey and the Near East. The larvae feed on Olea europaea (Olive tree). From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Kapilio, 17/4/2012 by Mike Hadjiconstantis

Beet armyworm or small mottled willow moth - Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family: Noctuidae

The beet armyworm or small mottled willow moth (Spodoptera exigua) is one of the best-known agricultural pest insects. It is also known as the asparagus fern caterpillar. It is native to Asia, but has been introduced worldwide and is now found almost anywhere its many host crops are grown. The voracious larvae are the main culprits. They are greenish-brown cutworms, soft and bulging caterpillars with dark longitudinal stripes. The adult is a drab brown or grey moth 2 to 3 cm in wingspan.
The larvae feed on the foliage of plants, and can completely defoliate small ones. Smaller larvae devour the parenchyma of leaves, so all that remains is the thin epidermis and veins. Larger larvae tend to burrow holes through thick areas of plants. For example, they burrow straight into a head oflettuce rather than neatly removing tissue from one particular leaf. This renders the produce unmarketable. They attack buds and new growth on plants, preventing flowers from opening, new leaves from sprouting, and vegetables from developing. As the smaller larvae move about they leave strands of silk behind, netting the leaves with a silvery film.
The wide host range of the beet armyworm includes asparagus, beans and peas, sugar and table beets, celery, cole crops, lettuce, potato, tomato, cotton, cereals, oilseeds, tobacco, many flowers, and a multitude of weed species. . The beet armyworm does not tolerate cold. It can overwinter in warm areas, such as Florida and Hawaii, but in colder areas, it dies off during the winter and the region is reinvaded by the adult moth as the weather warms and crop plants sprout.
In the British Isles, where it is an introduced species and not known to breed, the adult moth is known as the small mottled willow.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 26/8/ 2015 by George Konstantinou

Hodebertia testalis. (Fabricius, 1794) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Hodebertia is a genus of micro-moth of the Crambidae family. It contains only one species, Hodebertia testalis, and is found in the tropics, but ranges north to parts of Europe on occasion.
Adults are white, with two ragged brown arcs across each wing. The larvae feed on Hibiscus,Gomphocarpus and Asclepias species (including Asclepias curassavica).
Hodebertia testalis is an African tropical species which has been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar,Mozambique, Réunion, Saint Helena, Somalia, South Africa and Zambia. It is occasionally found in Europe and has been reported from Croatia, England (St Mary's, Isles of Scilly), France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Elsewhere it has been found in Australia(Queensland), India, Indonesia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan and Yemen.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.Photos Geri 8/10/2015  by George Konstantinou

Large tabby - Aglossa pinguinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family: Pyralidae

Aglossa pinguinalis, also known as the large tabby, is a moth in the Pyralinae subfamily.

The larvae feed on dead vegetation, fruit and grasses.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.Photos Geri 8/10/2015  by George Konstantinou

Clay Groundling - Nothris verbascella (Denis & Schiffermuller, [1775]) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Nothris verbascella, the Clay Groundling, is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It was described by Denis & Schiffermuller in 1775. It is found in almost all of Europe, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, the Near East and the Russian Far East.

The wingspan is 17–21 mm. There are two generations per year with adults on wing from May to early October.

The larvae feed on Verbascum densiflorum, Verbascum phlomoides and Verbascum thapsus. The larvae live freely at the underside of the leaves of their host plant, causing window feeding. Since the dense layer of felt on the underside of the leaf is left intact, the feeding damage has the appearance of a mine. .From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri 5/10/2015  by George Konstantinou

Palumbina guerinii (Stainton, 1858) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Palumbina guerinii is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in southern Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula north to France, east toItaly and Greece.
It is considered a pest on pistachio trees. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photos Nicosia 5/10/2015  by George Konstantinou

Pericyma squalens (Lederer, 1855) - Cyprus

See also 

List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

All about Cyprus - Όλα για την Κύπρο

Pericyma squalens is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in south-eastern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon,Cyprus, Israel and Jordan.

There are multiple generations per year. Adults are on wing from March to August.

The larvae possibly feed on Alhagi species. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ηostplant

Camelthorn, camelthorn-bush, Caspian manna, and Persian mannaplant - Alhagi maurorum Medik

Photos Nicosia, 15/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Egyptian stemborer, Egyptian bollworm, spiny bollworm or cotton spotted bollworm - Earias insulana (Boisduval, 1833) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family: Nolidae

The Egyptian stemborer, Egyptian bollworm, spiny bollworm or cotton spotted bollworm (Earias insulana) is a moth of the Nolidae family. It is found in most of Africa, southern Europe, the Near East and Middle East, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia and Hawaii. It is a rare in immigrant in Great Britain.

The wingspan is 20–22 mm. Adults show strong seasonal polymorphism, depending on the temperature. Two distinct forms are present in some areas: a bright green summer form and a brownish-yellow autumn form.

The larvae feed on okra, cotton and hibiscus, but have also been recorded on rice, sugarcane and corn. Initially, larvae tunnel into the buds of their host plant. Later, the larvae feeds on the bolls, which become brown and fall off. Secondary invasion by fungi and bacteria sometimes occurs. Full-grown larvae are 13–18 mm long, wingspan is generally approx.24–28 mm. It can be confused with Earias clorana and spiny bollworm Earias biplaga.

Pupation takes place in a felt-like cocoon, which is attached to dry leaves of the food plant or to plant debris on the ground. Typically, the pupal stage takes 9–15 days, but may extend to up to two months if development is delayed by low temperatures.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri ,15/8/2006 by George Konstantinou

Brighton Wainscot - Oria musculosa (Hübner, 1808) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

The Brighton Wainscot (Oria musculosa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.

It is found in mainland Europe, north Africa and central Asia, with a separated population in South Africa. It is nationally scarce in Britain where it may be confined to Salisbury Plain, and was pronounced extinct as a resident species by 2013.

The wingspan is 28–34 mm. The moth flies in July and August.

The larvae feed internally in the stems of cereal crops.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri ,10/5/2011 by George Konstantinou

Eublemma cochylioides (Guenée, 1852) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Eublemma cochylioides is a species of moth of the Erebidae family.

It is found throughout the Old World countries (including France). Besides France, it can also be found in such European countries as Greece and Portugal, and on islands such as Crete and Cyprus. It is also common in Asian ones such as Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Taiwan, where it might migrate. When comes African migration the species resort to South Africa, from which it might migrate to such Australian islands as Fiji and Tonga, and including Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

The wingspan is about 20 millimetres (0.79 in). Adults have pale brown forewings each with two darker submarginal brown lines containing a triangular pink area.

The larvae have been recorded on Elephantopus species and Prenanthes spinosa.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri ,29/11/2005 by George Konstantinou

Spoladea recurvalis (Fabricius, 1775) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Spoladea recurvalis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found worldwide, but mainly in the tropics.

The wingspan is 22–24 mm. The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Spinach, Beet, Cotton, Maize and Soybean. They feed on the underside of the leaves protected by a slight web. The larvae are green and resemble the ribs of the leaf somewhat. Full-grown, they are about 19 mm long.

The pupa is formed within a slight cocoon in a folded piece of leaf. It is very pale brown. The pupal period lasts about 12 days.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri ,29/10/2005 by George Konstantinou

Idaea distinctaria (Boisduval, 1840) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Photos Geri by George Konstantinou

Palpita vitrealis (Rossi, 1794) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Palpita vitrealis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It occurs worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and America. In Europe, it is found in southern Europe, but may be found further north due to its migratory nature.

The wingspan is 27–31 mm. The moth flies in Autumn depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Jasminum officinale, Ligustrum, Forsythia and Olive species.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri ,28/5/2006 by George Konstantinou

Photo Geri ,4/6/2024 by George Konstantinou

Aporodes floralis (Hübner, 1809) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Aporodes floralis is a moth of the Crambidae family. It is found in most of Europe (except Ireland, Great Britain, the Benelux,Fennoscandia and the Baltic region), Algeria, Syria, Afghanistan, central Asia, north-western India,Cyprus, and Yemen

The wingspan is 15–20 mm. The forewings are deep purple, suffused with blackish or greyish brown and with well defined cross-lines. Adults are on wing from May to the beginning of October in two generations per year.

The larvae feed on Cynara cardunculus and

Convolvulus arvensis 

.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 12/6/ 2006 by George Konstantinou

Ethmia bipunctella (Fabricius, 1775) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Ethmia bipunctella is a diurnal moth from the family Ethmiidae. It can be found in Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia and the northeastern part of North America. E. iranella was formerly included here as a subspecies.

The wingspan of the moth ranges from 19–28 millimetres (0.75–1.10 in). The flight time ranges from May to September. The moth is bivoltine, having two generations per year.

The most important host plant is the Viper's Bugloss, but also Anchusa officinalis and plants from the genus Symphytum. Pupae are attached to dead wood.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 20/5/ 2010 by George Konstantinou

Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1858) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Pandesma robusta is a species of moth of family Erebidae  It is found in Portugal, Spain, Malta, Sicily, Greece, Crete, the Canary Islands, throughout Africa and from Asia Minor to India and Pakistan.

Adults are on wing year round. There are multiple generations per year.

The larvae feed on Acacia, Albizzia lebbek and Populus euphratica.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 21/10/ 2014 by George Konstantinou

Indian mealmoth - Plodia interpunctella (Hübner, [1813]) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

The Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella), alternatively spelled Indianmeal moth, is a pyraloid moth of the family Pyralidae. Alternative common names are weevil moth, and pantry moth; less specifically, it may be referred to as flour moth or grain moth. The almond moth (Cadra cautella) is commonly confused with the Indian mealmoth.

Its larvae (caterpillars) are commonly known as waxworms like those of its relatives, though they are not the particular waxworms often bred as animal food. They are a common grain-feeding pest found around the world, feeding on cereals and similar products.

Adults are 8–10 mm in length with 16– to 20-mm wingspans. The outer half of their fore wings are bronze, copper, or dark gray in color, while the upper half are yellowish-gray, with a dark band at the intersection between the two. The larvae are off-white with brown heads. There are 5-7 larval instars. When these larvae mature, they are usually about 12 mm long.^[4] "They have five pairs of well developed prolegs that help them move considerable distances to pupate.

The entire lifecycle of this species may take 30 to 300 days. Female moths lay between 60 and 400 eggs on a food surface, which are ordinarily smaller than 0.5 mm and not sticky. The eggs hatch in 2 to 14 days. The larval stage lasts from 2 to 41 weeks, depending on the temperature.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 15/10/ 2014 by George Konstantinou

Large yellow underwing - Noctua pronuba (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

The large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba) is a moth, the type species for the family Noctuidae. It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic ecozone, one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region. In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range.
It is also present in Europe, North Africa, Canary Islands, Middle East, Turkey, Iraq, Iran ,Afghanistan, northwest India, Russia, Novosibirsk Oblast, Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. It was introduced into North America at Nova Scotia. Since then it has increased its range considerably and has been recorded for Maine in 1985, and then spread throughout the northeast from Vermont and Massachusetts (1989) to New Hampshire (1990), New York, Maryland (1992), and Connecticut (1993). It was first recorded in Pennsylvania in 1998, North Carolina (1997) and west to Colorado (1999), Wyoming (2000), California (2001), and British Columbia (2002). The latest new record is from Alaska (2005).
This is a quite large and heavy moth with a wingspan of 50–60 mm. The forewings are quite variable from light brown to almost black. The darker individuals often have a pale streak along the costa. The hindwings are bright orange-yellow with a black sub-terminal band. As with otherNoctua species (and numerous other insects), this contrast of bland-on-land and bright-in-flight is used to confuse potential predators. This species flies at night from July to September  and is attracted to light, sometimes in huge numbers. It will also visit flowers such as Buddleia, ragwort, and red valerian.
The larva is green or brown with two rows of black dashes along the back. This is one of the notorious "cutworms", causing fatal damage at the base of virtually any herbaceous plant (some examples listed below), sometimes severing it completely. This ubiquitous species is one of the most hated of garden pests. The species overwinters as a larva and feeds on mild days throughout the winter.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Geri , 27/9/ 2014 by George Konstantinou