Grey Dagger
Pfeileule ( Acronicta psi)
The Pfeileule ( Acronicta psi), also Schleheneule is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 37-44 millimeters. The forewings are pale gray, rarely gray brown to dark gray in color, but usually gray with black Überstäubung. Very characteristic are more pronounced root line and tornaler line. Inner and outer transverse line marked clearly and double black. In contrast, the central shadow is clearly visible only in the rear and front edge of the forewing. The hem line is barely visible. The fringes are white to light gray with narrow, interneuralen strokes. Ring spot or blemish kidneys are clearly seen in the region of the short, black drawn between stigma stroke. The hind wings of the male are white with dark gray drawing of the veins, especially the distal portions. The hind wings of the female are, however, light gray at the base, and becoming darker towards the outer edge. Mean transverse line and Diskalfleck are only vaguely developed. The hem line, however, is black, the fringe pale gray with narrow interneuralen strokes. The underside of the front and hind wings is gray, the front wing is usually somewhat darker. On the bottom of the front and rear wings, the mean transverse line and the Diskalfleck is developed; However, the average cross line on the hind wings is only weakly drawn. Head and thorax are individually different colored light to dark gray. The moths of Acronicta psi can not be safely distinguished from the two similar species Acronicta tridens and Acronicta cuspis based on external characteristics.
The flat cone-shaped egg is white with a black Mikopylfleck. The surface has low longitudinal ribs. There are three orange wedge spots available.
The caterpillars are about 38 mm long. They are black and have the back a broad and dominant yellow (young animals) or white (old animals) back strap. In addition, they carry a whitish gray side binding and always arranged in pairs on each segment between the two belts red dashes. On the back of the fourth segment, a considerably higher, black and hairy appendage is visible. On the eleventh segment there is another, much smaller, and cone-shaped pin which is black and the front yellow. The caterpillars have many white and back scattered very long, black hair.
The pupa is reddish brown with a truncated cone-like cremaster, which is circular covered with short, curved, spine -like bristles.
Similar Species
The moths of alder Pfeileule ( Acronicta cuspis ), the Pfeileule ( Acronicta psi ) and the moth - Pfeileule the trident ( tridens Acronicta ) are very similar. The distinguishing features are listed:
- The moths of A. cuspis and A. tridens are slightly bigger on average, but the absolute magnitude range is almost the same.
- The color shades of the base color differ slightly, A. cuspis often has a bluish tinge. The root line and the line tornale are very much developed. The hind wings of the male are dark gray with relatively clear center line and Diskalfleck. For the other two species, the hind wings are white, except for the hem line ( in A. tridens ) or black dusted along the veins in A. psi.
- The forewings of A. psi is by far the most variable what the base color is concerned; this varies from white to gray monochrome dark gray. The hindwing is blackish along the distal portions of the veins and the hem line. In very dark forms, the hind wings of A. psi be as dark as that of A. cuspis, but is less dusted.
- In contrast, in A. tridens forewing less variable, less marked and usually darker than in A. psi.
- A. tridens is more common in more moist, bog -like habitats.
Despite the aforementioned distinguishing features is a safe destination only possible through a genital examination at the moths. But as differ the caterpillars of the three types mentioned very clearly, a unique assignment by means of breeding is also possible.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The animals are practically spread throughout Europe, with the exception of western and northern Scandinavia and the northern part of European Russia. The distribution area further extends through Siberia to the Russian Far East and North China. They also come in North Africa, the Middle East (Israel, Jordan and Lebanon ) in front of, Cyprus, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, northern Iran and Central Asia before.
They live in scrubland, deciduous forests, forest edges, in steppes, parks and gardens. In the Alps, it rises to 1600 meters above sea level.
Way of life
The Pfeileule forms annually in Central Europe two partly somewhat overlapping generations, whose moth fly from May to June and from July to August. In Baden- Württemberg some moths fly in April, some still in September. In Israel, the two generations, however, are very clearly separated. The moths of the first generation fly from February to April, the moths of the second generation in September and October.
The moths are nocturnal and can be easily at night by artificial light sources lure. Visit flowers; was observed visiting flowers of butterfly bush ( Buddleja davidii ). They also come to the bait.
The caterpillars feed on polyphagous from the leaves of deciduous trees such as birch (Betula ), alder ( Alnus ), oak (Quercus ), willow ( Salix), poplar (Populus ), Linden (Tilia ), elm (Ulmus ), hornbeam (Carpinus ), pear (Pyrus ), Prunus, apple (Malus ) and flour berries ( Sorbus ) .. Ebert et al. (1997) give even to other species of deciduous trees and some shrubs following genera: beech (Fagus ), hazel (Corylus ), ornamental quince ( Chaenomeles ), hawthorn (Crataegus ), rock lights ( Amelanchier ), roses ( Rosa ) and Rhus.
The caterpillars often live on large trees, but not in the crown, but on branches that hang far or stick sprouts. They are diurnal and live a little hidden freely on the leaves. They pupate in a cocoon fixed on or under bark on the trunk, on rotten wood or on the ground. The pupa overwinters.
Threats and conservation
The Pfeileule is not at risk in Germany.
Systematics and Nomenclature
The Pfeileule ( Acronicta psi), the alder Pfeileule ( Acronicta cuspis ) and the trident - Pfeileule ( Acronicta tridens ) are of Fibiger et al. (2009) placed in the subgenus Triaena Hübner, 1818. It lists no subspecies. However, there are numerous synonyms.