Beautiful Yellow Underwing

The Beautiful Yellow Underwing (Anarta myrtilli) is a moth belonging to the order Lepidoptera and the family Noctuidae. It is a common insect across temperate regions of Europe, often found in heaths, moors, and forest areas where its host plants are naturally occurring.

The primary host plants for this species are members of the Ericaceae family, most notably the bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Other host plants include common heather (Calluna vulgaris) and bog-rosemary. While they typically exist in wild habitats, they can become a significant pest when berry farms are established near their natural environments.

The life cycle of the moth typically spans two generations per year. Adults fly between May and July. After mating, eggs are laid on the leaves of host plants. The larvae pass through several instars before pupating within a silken cocoon in the soil surface. This subterranean stage is critical for their overwintering success.

The larvae are responsible for the damage, as they feed voraciously on the foliage of the host plants. Feeding activity typically peaks during the larval stages, leading to defoliation. This loss of leaf tissue reduces the plant's ability to perform photosynthesis, which stunts growth and significantly impacts fruit yield in commercial berry production.

Control strategies for this pest should focus on integrated pest management. Key methods include:

• Maintaining clean fields by removing invasive weeds.
• Monitoring larval populations in early summer.
• Using mechanical cultivation to disrupt pupal overwintering sites in the soil.
• Applying targeted insecticides only when population thresholds justify chemical intervention to minimize ecological impact.