Broad-bordered yellow underwing
Its hindwings stay hidden until it suddenly takes flight, flashing bright orange-yellow to startle a predator before it lands and vanishes again.
| Where | Woodland, gardens, hedgerows |
|---|---|
| Size | 45 to 58 mm wingspan |
| When | June to September |
At rest the mottled reddish-brown forewings hide bright orange-yellow hindwings crossed by a broad black band.
It flies in a single generation and the caterpillars feed through autumn and winter before pupating in spring.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Orange
Active
Night
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The large yellow underwing has a narrower black border on the hindwing than the broad-bordered yellow underwing.
Questions
Is the Broad-bordered yellow underwing dangerous to people?
The Broad-bordered yellow underwing is harmless to people.
When can you see the Broad-bordered yellow underwing?
The Broad-bordered yellow underwing can be seen from June to September, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Pekka Malinen, Luomus, CC BY‑SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Butterflies and moths›Owlet moths›Noctua
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.