Minucia lunaris
Brown ribbon ( Minucia lunaris )
The brown ribbon ( Minucia lunaris ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). The German name " Brown ribbon " is systematically somewhat misleading, because the way does not belong to the genre of classical Ribbons ( Catocala ).
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 52-60 millimeters, the females are larger than males. The color of the forewing ranges from gray to light brown to dark brown. The inner and outer transverse line is bright, often dark lined and slightly wavy, whereas the wavy line is strongly curled up slightly jagged. The outer transverse line is often even lined with a slightly wider, dark band. In the contact area of the outer transverse line with the front edge of the band is often very dark, stain -like manner. Often the Saumfeld from the base color differs from and is highlighted prominently. The fringes are also in contrasting colors, bright or colored slightly darker. The kidneys flaw is relatively small and darker than the ground color, often even deep black. In addition, a very small, black Orbikularfleck available. Also the root area has a black spot, which is but slightly larger than the Orbikularfleck. The fringes have, on the basis of the point of intersection with the strands dark points. The hind wings are finely fringed yellow and otherwise dark brown with an even darker band across the middle of the wing. The antennae are long and the eyes large.
Egg, caterpillar and chrysalis
The egg is strongly flattened at the bottom, with 20 wavy longitudinal lines and finer transverse lines. First, it is a light green color after oviposition, with a stained, white napkin; the egg base is colored white. The color changes just before the hatching of the Eiraupe to dark red. The caterpillars are first punctured green and white, with red side stripes. The later stages are brownish gray with a brownish head, but having yellowish and darker, elongated markings. The back shows a weak, relatively broad back zone. In the fourth segment there are two orange red side cusps; on the penultimate segment two small, light brown, darkens fringed eye-spots are formed. The caterpillars are before pupation 60 to 70 mm long. The pupa is dark brown to blackish brown, with a wrinkled cremaster. This has two long and four short curved bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The brown ribbon is found in South and Central Europe. Meanwhile, an occurrence in southern Sweden is considered to be down to earth. Also in southern England occurs in the way; whether as a migrant or native is controversial. Apparently she was at least temporarily, down to earth. The distribution area extends across Central Russia to the Volga and Kazakhstan. The species is native in North Africa and Asia Minor and Cyprus. It prefers sunny and dry places such as slopes, clearings, forest edges, light deciduous mixed forests (especially oak forests) or firebreaks / strikes and valleys. In the mountains you will find the brown ribbon to a height of 800 m.
Way of life
The brown ribbon forms from one generation per year. The flight time of the reclusive moth begins in May and ends in late June. In Southern Europe, however, it can start as early as March. The animals are nocturnal, but occasionally they are also in the afternoon encountered when flying over the meadows. They can easily flush out from the leaf litter. At night you will find the moths to light sources they rely directly back at the slightest disturbance. They also come to the bait and visit flowers. The caterpillars live on the buds and leaves of oak (Quercus ). In their motion, they are more reminiscent of loopers. Young caterpillars initially hide on the underside of leaves, later, when they have changed color, they sit on the branches ( Astmimese ). They pupate in the fall, the doll wintered in a solid cocoon on the ground.
Endangering
The brown ribbon is classified as " vulnerable" on the Red List of endangered species of the FRG in the category 3 as. In Saxony and Thuringia, it is threatened with extinction (Category 1); Bavaria, Lower Saxony and North Rhine -Westphalia they classify as " high risk " (category 2).
Systematics and Taxonomy
The species was described in 1775 by Michael Denis Johann Ignaz and Schiffermueller as Noctua lunaris first time scientifically. Minucia inconspicua Warren, 1913 is a junior synonym of Minucia lunaris Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775. Minucia lunaris is the type species of the genus Minucia Moore, 1885. Currently, ten species of the genus are known, but it is only one kind, the brown ribbon in Europe before. Previously, the species was also provided to the genus Pseudophia Guenée, 1852. However, this genus is a junior, objective synonym of the genus Clytie Hübner, 1823. This genus is distinctly different from Minucia, but also to the subfamily Catocalinae provided.