noctuid

noc·tu·id

N0125400 (nŏk′cho͞o-ĭd)n. Any of numerous usually brown or gray night-flying moths of the family Noctuidae, many of which have larvae, such as the cutworms and armyworms, that are agricultural pests. Also called owlet moth.

---

[From New Latin Noctuidae, family name, from Noctua, type genus, from Latin noctua, night owl; see nek^w-t- in Indo-European roots.]

---

noc′tu·id adj.

noctuid

(ˈnɒktjʊɪd) n (Animals) any nocturnal moth of the family Noctuidae: includes the underwings and antler moth. See also cutworm, armywormadj (Zoology) of, relating to, or belonging to the Noctuidae[C19: via New Latin from Latin noctua night owl, from nox night]

noc•tu•id

(ˈnɒk tʃu ɪd)

n. any of numerous dull-colored moths of the family Noctuidae, the larvae of which include the armyworms and cutworms. [1875–80; < New Latin Noctuidae=Noctu(a) a genus of European moths (Latin noctua the little owl, probably n. use of feminine of *noctuus=noct-, s. of nox night + -uus adj. suffix) + -idae -id²]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

noctuid - usually dull-colored medium-sized nocturnal moth; the usually smooth-bodied larvae are destructive agricultural pestsnoctuid moth, owlet mothmoth - typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennaefamily Noctuidae, Noctuidae - cutworms; armywormsunderwing - moth having dull forewings and brightly colored hind wingsantler moth, Cerapteryx graminis - European moth with white antler-like markings on the forewings; the larvae damage pastures and grasslandsheliothis moth, Heliothis zia - medium-sized moth whose larvae are corn earwormsarmyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta - moth whose destructive larvae travel in multitudesSpodoptera exigua - moth whose larvae are beet armywormsSpodoptera frugiperda - moth whose larvae are fall armyworms