Lamprotes c-aureum
Wies Argyle Gold Owl ( Lamprotes c- aureum )
The meadow Argyle Gold Owl ( Lamprotes c- aureum ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
Features
The meadow Argyle Gold Owl is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan from 36 to 40 millimeters. The forewings are dark brown, sometimes purple -tinted. Ring and kidney blemish are indistinct. The transverse lines are each twice. At the inner edge of the outer transverse line is a golden field. The vast area between the double transverse line and the outer skirt from the front edge is golden shiny. The tip of the pin stigma as well as parts of the root field are also partly golden. The hind wings are brownish gray. The body of the butterfly is particularly hairy furry in the front, the head is a tuft of hair. The eggs are yellowish white. The caterpillars reach a length of up to 35 millimeters and are unmistakable. You have only two Bauchfußpaare, are green with wide white bordered oblique spots, as well as with conical warts back from the 4th to the 11th segment. The doll is bright green with blue-black back and somewhat elongated proboscis sheath. The cremaster is stalked and has two longer and some shorter hook-shaped bristles.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The range of the species extends from southeastern France over central Europe, Northern Italy, the northern Balkan Peninsula over Central Russia, the Caucasus, the southern Ural Mountains, southern Siberia, Mongolia to northern China. In the north, the range extends to southern Sweden and southern Finland. But you're lacking in the British Isles. On the Pacific coast it is represented by the very similar sister species Lamprotes mikadina. The meadow Argyle Gold Owl preferably used sporadically until rare in floodplain forests, floodplains, shore areas and parklands before. In local habitats it can also occur more frequently. In the northern part of the range of the species is found in the plains to the hills. In the Alps, the nature rises up to about 1200 meters and is to be found there on mountain meadows with tall grass vegetation. Especially in southern Europe preferred the way the mountainous regions.
Phenology and life
The meadow Argyle Gold Owl comes in in a generation before going from late June to late August. In warmer regions z.T. is a partial second generation formed. Here the moths fly from late May to September. The moths rest during the day and only become active at dawn. Visit flowers and sucking nectar. The moths Natternkopf were observed at Lavandula spica ( syn. of Broad-leaved lavender (Lavandula latifolia ) ) Exceptional ( Echium vulgare) and Exceptional soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis). They are attracted to the artificial light sources. The eggs (about 7 to 10) laid on the underside of leaves of the caterpillar food plants in small numbers. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of various meadow diamond and columbines species, such as:
- Columbine Meadow Rue ( Thalictrum aquilegifolium )
- Yellow Meadow Rue ( Thalictrum flavum )
- Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
The caterpillars rest in a curved posture on the undersides of leaves, where they are camouflaged very well by shape, color and markings and resemble this bird droppings ( Kotmimese ). The young caterpillars overwinter and are found from August to June of the following year. Pupation takes place in a silky cocoon between the leaves of the caterpillar food plant or, more rarely on the ground.
Endangering
The species is listed in Germany on the red list of endangered species. It is classified as endangered.
Synonyms
- Chrysoptera c- aureum
- Plusia c- aureum