# Tyta
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{{Short description|Genus of moths}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = ''Tyta luctuosa''
| image = Four-spotted moth Lempes.jpg
| image2 = Tyta luctuosa larva.jpg
| image2_caption = Adult (top) and larva (bottom)
| display_parents = 2
| parent_authority = [Billberg](/source/Gustaf_Johan_Billberg), 1820
| taxon = Tyta luctuosa
| authority = ([Denis](/source/Michael_Denis) & [Schiffermüller](/source/Ignaz_Schifferm%C3%BCller), 1775)
| synonyms = *''Dysthymia'' [Newman](/source/Edward_Newman_(entomologist)), 1868
| synonyms_ref =[{{cite journal |first1=Edward |last1=Newman |title=The Life-history of ''Dysthymia luctuosa'' |date=1868 |journal=The Entomologist |volume=4 |page=174 |url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11917074 |via=Biodiversity Heritage Library}}][{{cite journal |last1=Pitkin |first1=Brian |last2=Jenkins |first2=Paul |name-list-style=amp |date=5 November 2004 |url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/butmoth/search/GenusDetails.dsml?NUMBER=9259.0 |title=''Dysthymia'' Newman, 1868 |website=Butterflies and Moths of the World |publisher=[Natural History Museum, London](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_London) |doi=10.5519/s93616qw |accessdate=7 January 2020}}]
}}
'''''Tyta''''' is a genus of [noctuid](/source/noctuidae) ('owlet') [moths](/source/moths) that was erected by [Gustaf Johan Billberg](/source/Gustaf_Johan_Billberg) in 1820. It is [monotypic](/source/monotypic), being represented by the single species '''''Tyta luctuosa''''', commonly known as '''four-spotted moth''' and '''field bindweed moth'''. The species was [first described](/source/Species_description) by [Michael Denis](/source/Michael_Denis) and [Ignaz Schiffermüller](/source/Ignaz_Schifferm%C3%BCller) in 1775.
This moth is native to much of the [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic){{snd}}most of Europe east to the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and from Siberia to China and south to North Africa. The adult moth is about eleven millimeters long and dark brown with one large white spot on each of its four wings.
==Technical description and variation==
{{Entomology glossary hatnote}}
Its forewings are purplish fuscous, becoming paler, and more brownish, towards the termen, and sometimes at the extreme base; the lines black, fine; the inner oblique, thrice waved; the outer excurved above middle, incurved below; subterminal line pale, preceded by a darker shade; fringe white with a dark patch below middle; an abbreviated white band from costa to vein 3 beyond cell, sometimes tinged with tannish peach; hindwing with a white median band of varying width; in ab. ''angustifascia'' ab. nov. this band is greatly restricted and sometimes interrupted; the examples in which the white costal blotch of forewing is tinged with flesh colour constitute the ab. ''ochracea'' Tutt. The larvae are grey, sometimes reddish grey and darker at the sides; hues pale with dark edges somewhat interrupted; spiracular line dark brown, pale edge; beneath; subspiracular reddish brown; face ochreous grey with rows of small dark dots. The first two pairs of [proleg](/source/proleg)s are shorter than usual.[[Warren. W.](/source/William_Warren_(entomologist)) in Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 ''Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde'', Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914{{PD-notice}}]
==Biology==
Two adult generations emerge each year, one in late spring and one in summer. In warm areas there is often a third generation. The female lays about 400 to 500 eggs. The [larva](/source/larva) is a brown [caterpillar](/source/caterpillar). The larva is the destructive stage. It eats leaves and flowers, especially new buds. This is the desired effect of this moth when it is used as an agent of [biological pest control](/source/biological_pest_control) against [field bindweed](/source/Convolvulus_arvensis) (''Convolvulus arvensis''). It was first introduced into the United States in the 1980s to attack this agricultural [weed](/source/noxious_weed), which is its main food plant.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). ''Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States''. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 155.
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Tyta luctuosa}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202034/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=449369 ''Fauna Europaea'']
*[http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Tyta_Luctuosa ''Lepiforum e.V.'']
*[http://www.vlindernet.nl/vlindersoort.php?vlinderid=888 ''De Vlinderstichting''] {{in lang|nl}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q341886}}
Category:Noctuidae
Category:Monotypic moth genera
Category:Taxa named by Michael Denis
Category:Taxa named by Ignaz Schiffermüller
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tyta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.