Rhyacia lucipeta
Rhyacia lucipeta
Rhyacia lucipeta, rarely Large Bodeneule, Shiny Erdeule or Erdhalden Bodeneule - called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). The species is rare in Germany and is considered endangered.
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The wingspan of the butterfly is 51 to 57 millimeters .. The basic coloration of the forewing upper side varies from yellow brown to beige to gray green and blue gray. Ring and kidney stigma are clearly marked and edged yellowish. Clearly highlighted is the strongly serrated, double drawn, yellow outer transverse line. However, the yellow drawing of fresh butterfly faded most during the several months of flight time. The tops of the hind wings have a yellow-gray to gray-brown color.
The nocturnal caterpillars are inconspicuously colored gray-brown. The back line is indistinct, slightly lighter or darker than the base color. The yellow side stripes are washed out. Striking are the only black spiracles. On each segment sit four black, small warts. The tan head is flattened slightly forward and without markings.
The very slim doll is reddish brown. The cremaster is busy truncoconical and with two sharp thorns.
Similar Species
Due to the large wingspan of the butterfly ( 51-57 mm ), the species is very striking. This makes it about as big as for example, the housemother ( Noctua pronuba ). From the similarly drawn, but less yellow toned Rhyacia helvetina to lucipeta also differs by the greater size.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species occurs in southern and central Europe, however, before with large gaps. In the Iberian Peninsula it is only in Northern Spain and completely isolated before in the Sierra Nevada. It is also missing in much of western France and the British Isles as well as on most Mediterranean islands. In the south reaches the circulation area of north-west Africa (Morocco and Algeria), in the north of the Netherlands. A proof in the south of England is expected to fall to a migrant butterfly. A treasure message in the Canary Islands has also been corrected. From there, the northern limit of distribution the southern Ukraine moves through the northern Central German Uplands over southern Poland to the Crimea and the Caucasus region. To the southeast, the distribution area extends from the Balkans through Turkey to Iraq. In the Alps, it rises up to 2000 meters altitude, in other, more southern mountains up to 2800 meters. Main habitat is warm slopes, heathland, quarries and screes. In the south of its range it is an exclusively montane type, which is found only in the higher parts of the mountains with sparse vegetation. Because of a marked dispersion of flight behavior, however, the moth may be found even in remote and unusual habitats.
Way of life
Rhyacia lucipeta is one generation per year, the moths fly from June to early October. They are nocturnal and are seen only rarely in artificial light sources as well as rather rare at the bait. During the hottest months, they remain in a summer rest. They are therefore mainly observed in August -September. The caterpillars feed on a variety of low plants, such as herbs from Horn ( Cerastium ), broadleaf thyme (Thymus pulegioides ), coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara ), Round-leaved bellflower ( Campanula rotundifolia ) and others. The caterpillars are nocturnal and hide during the day in the loose soil. The caterpillars overwinter and pupate in May of the following year to 10 cm buried deep in the ground.
Endangering
Rhyacia lucipeta occurs in Germany with varying frequency, but is usually rare. It is classified on the Red List of endangered species in Category 2 ( high risk ).
Taxonomy
Very dark specimens from Turkey probably represent a new subspecies.