[LEPS-L:7934] N. pronuba

[DR. JAMES ADAMS]

Listers,

This is a Palaearctic species that was
> introduced a while back to North America.

Actually, I don't think it is clear whether this moth was introduced 
or made it to N. America on its own.  Most likely it came in on 
some man-made vehicle.  First recorded in the NE in the late 70's, 
it has now made it to N. GA, western Indiana, Wisconsin.  There 
are also separate records from Louisiana and Colorado, which 
likely represent other introductions into the states.  Certainly the 
lone LA record is almost undoubtedly a unique introduction.

 In the U.K., the vernacular
> name is The Large Yellow Underwing; colloquial names include
> buzz-bomber and #@*#ing nuisance due to its tendancy for complete
> annihilation of the rest of the catch in a moth trap whilst tens or
> even hundreds of pronuba flap madly about inside the trap.

Well, it certainly hasn't reached *that* level here in N. Georgia 
(yet).  There are other noctuids, however, that would fit under 
Roger's last name -- I had an experience in central Texas in May of 
this year where a trap was overwhelmed by Bulia deducta.  Very 
active and very tenacious, the thousand or so in the trap rendered 
worthless most of the other moths.

	James

Dr. James K. Adams
Dept. of Natural Science and Math
Dalton State College
213 N. College Drive
Dalton, GA  30720
Phone: (706)272-4427; fax: (706)272-2533
U of Michigan's President James Angell's 
  Secret of Success: "Grow antennae, not horns"

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl