The invention discloses a noctuidae pest attractant. The noctuidae pest attractant comprises, by weight, 0.5-5 parts of phenylacetaldehyde, 0.5-5 parts of methyl o-anisate, 0.5-5 parts of methyl salicylate, 0.5-5 parts of cis-hexenyl acetate, 0.5-5 parts of limonene, 0.5-20 parts of feed attractant, 10-90 parts of slow-release carrier and 30-80 parts of water. The invention further discloses a preparation method and application of the attractant. The attractant prepared by the method is stable in performance, long in efficacy lasting time, wide in pest attracting spectrum and capable of attracting female and male imagoes. The attractant prepared by the method is a wide-spectrum attractant, has good attracting effect on various noctuidae pests like armyworm, Spodoptera litura, Spodoptera exigua, cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa assulta, cutworm and Plusia agnata and can attract and Lamprosema indicata fabricius and several Coleopterous pests. The noctuidae pest attractant can effectively attract and kill noctuidae pests when cooperating with a tiny amount of stomach-toxicity pesticides. The noctuidae pest attractant can be directly applied on crops and can be used with the help of various traps.