Noctua tirrenica Biebinger, Speidel & Hanigk, 1983

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous on herbs, grasses and especially after hibernation also on small groves. As the other Noctua they prefer grasses at least before hibernation.

Habitat:
Noctua tirrenica inhabits especially open scrub and open woodlands with grassy understory from sea level up to 1500m. I recorded the larvae on grasses together with those of Thalpophila vitalba and Polyphaenis subsericeata at the edge of Quercus pyrenaicus woodlands in autumn (Sierra de Gredos, 1200m, mid-October 2021) and Pinus nigra woodland (Sierra del Segura, 1300m, mid-November 2022). In spring the larvae can be shaken out of the litter (Sierra de Gredos, late March 2022).

Life cycle:
The adults occur from early summer to October. An estivation is probable. The larvae occur between late September or October to May. They are also active during winter in mild weather.

Remarks:
Noctua tirrenica occurs in southern Europe, northward to the southern foothills of the Alps (Ticino, Lake Garda).

In the south also N. fimbriata occurs, but is rare or lacking especially in hot habitats. Noctua tirrenica can easily distinguished by the mere white margins of the lower side of the forwings and the apical margin of the hindwings. The upper side of the forewings is more uniformous and light. Moreover, the female genitalia is very different.