Syngrapha ain
Larch Gold Owl ( Syngrapha ain )
The larch Gold Owl ( Syngrapha ain ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
The larch Gold Owl is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan 34-40 mm. The front wings are colored in different shades of gray and brown tones, some striking lines and have - as in many species of the subfamily Plusiinae - a characteristic drawing on the fore wings, in the form of gamma from the Greek alphabet, which is colored silver white. This is similar to the type of gamma - Owl ( Autographa gamma ) and the blueberry syllable Owl ( Syngrapha interrogationis ). In the rest position, that is, in roof-like folded wings, the moths are difficult to distinguish from each other. However, clear differentiator is the yellow hind wings with a brownish outer skirt in larch Gold Owl. Three other species, which also have yellow hind wings and similar drawings are Hochenwarths Gold Owl ( Syngrapha hochenwarthi ) Syngrapha devergens and the Moor - Gold Owl ( Syngrapha micro gamma). However, these species are small (22 to 30 mm wingspan ) and thereby easily distinguished from the larch Gold Owl. At the head of the butterfly is a dense tuft of hair. The body is hairy furry and has other smaller tufts of hair. The proboscis is well trained.
Egg
The egg is blunt cone-shaped and of a yellowish white color.
Caterpillar
The caterpillars are green in color. You have a double topline and a minor back line, which are all colored yellowish white. They also have wide, white- yellow side stripes, which are limited dark green top. The yellow stigmas are edged dark.
Doll
The pupa is dark brown. The cremaster is broad, wrinkled and has two sides and two shorter mean, longer bristles hook.
Similar Species
- Gamma - Owl ( Autographa gamma)
- Blueberry syllable Owl ( Syngrapha interrogationis )
- Moor Gold Owl ( Syngrapha micro gamma)
- Syngrapha devergens
- Hochenwarths Gold Owl ( Syngrapha hochenwarthi )
Geographical distribution and habitat
The larch Gold Owl comes in Europe preferably in mountainous areas before, for example in the Tatra Mountains, the Giant Mountains and the Alps, where it is found up to an altitude of 2200 meters. Sparse forests with larch, are their main distribution area.
Way of life
The larch Gold Owl flies both day and at night. The females lay eggs on larch ( Larix), which hatch the caterpillars in the fall and feed on the needle-like leaves of the larches. They overwinter and pupate mainly in May of the following year in a brownish cocoon. The moths fly in July and August.
Endangering
In Germany, the species occurs in Bavaria and is there to Category 3 (endangered ) protected.