none A bio-ethological study was carried out on Gaortyna xanthenes Germar during 1982-1984. The data show that the Noctuid has one generation a year. In the field the first eggs were found about one week after the emergence of adults. Hatching takes 30-45 days. The larval stage lasts from the second half of January to the thrid decade of September; the pupal stage lasts a little over a month. The most damaged parts of artichokes were the leaves, stalks and roots. At present in Sicily the Gortyna xanthenes bring few damages. During the study the following natural enemies of the larvae of Gortyna were ascertained: Bracon ecrocafus Schn., B. hemiflavus Szep., B. maculiger Ws., B. variator Ns. Psuedovipio castrator F., Lydella stabulans Meig. and one still unidentified Ichneumonid. The percent of parasitism was nevertheless very low.