Calophasia opalina

Calophasia opalina

Calophasia opalina ( syn. Calophasia casta ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).

• 4.1 Notes and references
• 4.2 Literature

Features

Butterfly

The wingspan of the butterfly is 26 to 31 mm. The forewings have a bright white but brown gray to darken blue gray in the middle and the Subterminalregion and connected by a bridge. Stigma and transverse lines are missing or are formed indistinct. In the middle of the outer edge is often a white v sign stands out. The hind wings are colored white without markings, slightly darkened at the outer edge and provided with silky white fringes. Head and thorax are also hairy silky white. Due to the very characteristic drawing elements, the species is unmistakable. The proboscis is well developed.

Caterpillar, and chrysalis

Full-grown caterpillars have a gray-white ground color, a yellow back line and are fitted with black, interrupted at the segment cuts back side lines as well as on the sides with yellow spots and many small black dots.

The doll is colored yellow-brown.

Distribution and habitat

The occurrence of Calophasia opalina extends widely through southern Europe and eastward with some gaps to Central Asia. They settled prefers warm slopes, dry grasslands and sand dunes.

Way of life

Calophasia opalina forms two generations per year, the butterflies are found from April to June and from July to September. They are active at dusk, visit the nectar recording different flowers and appear in the second half of the night sometimes in number of artificial light sources. The caterpillars feed on the leaves and flowers of different snapdragon (Antirrhinum ), larkspur ( Delphinium ) or Leinkrautarten ( Linaria ). The following on the first generation dolls spend a pupal period of only 14 to 16 days, the winter following the second generation dolls.

Swell