Trichoplusia ni (Hübner, 1803) Species
Last modified: Nov. 2, 2024, 11:40 a.m.
A very rare immigrant, not seen every year.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Noctuidae > Subfamily: Plusiinae > Tribus: Argyrogrammatini > Genus: Trichoplusia > Species: Trichoplusia ni
- Vernacular names
- Ni-uil (NL), Ni Moth (EN), Le Ni, la Plusie ni (FR), Aschgraue Höckereule (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- Van Schepdael J. 1972b. Deux espèces nouvelles pour la sphère faunistique belge: Plusia ni Hbn. et Mythimna unipuncta Haw. — Linneana belgica 5: 121–122. On page 121.
- Status
-
Migrant
An irregular migrant. Known observations after 2000: 2015 (6), 2017 (4), 2018 (1), 2022 (5), 2023 (1).
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 30–40 mm.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
It pupates in a white thin fragile cocoon formed on the underside of foliage, plant debris or amongst clods of soil. The adults become active on cloudy days or during cool weather, but are even more active during the night.
They come to light and sugar.
Flight periods
The semi-nocturnal adults fly in two generations a year from May till October.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Cakile maritima
- Host plant (genera):
- Calendula
The larvae feed on a wide variety of cultivated plants and weeds like Calendula, Cakele maritima, Chenopodium, Lactuca, Taraxacum officinale, Rumex crispus, Tagetes, Brassica, Solanum lycopersicum, Cucumis sativus etc...
This species can be a pest and is very destructive to plants due its voracious consumption of leaves.
