Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Subfamily Hadeninae

The Rosewing - Sideridis rosea Caterpillar - Melanchra assimilis Armyworm - Mythimna unipuncta Large Caterpillar 1 - Orthosia rubescens Hitched Arches - Melanchra adjuncta Caterpillar  - Nephelodes minians Egira hiemalis Melanchra or Cucullia - Trichordestra legitima
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
No Taxon (Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea
Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily Hadeninae
Identification
A useful character for narrowing down an identification is the presence/absence of a strong W- shaped ‘wiggle’ in the subterminal line (ST line). This character is especially prominent in several members of the Hadeninae owlet moths (Noctuidae). I am using Robin’s #34610 to show this character and the inward-pointing black wedges that may be associated with the ST line.

(TT)
Remarks
The classification used here follows The Moths of Canada CBIF site (linked to in the Internet References section below) which loosely follows Kitching and Rawlins, 1999, cited here.
The higher classification of the superfamily Noctuoidea is currently (2005) undergoing study and will no doubt change further in the near future.
Internet References
classification of Noctuoidea into families, subfamilies, and tribes (Noctuoidea of Eastern Canada; CBIF)