Agrotis bigramma
Male moths of the broad -winged Erdeule ( Agrotis bigramma )
The Broad -winged Erdeule ( Agrotis bigramma, formerly Agrotis crassa ), also known as White Striped Erdeule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan from 38 to 50 millimeters, with the wide range in the span explained by the fact that the female specimens are considerably larger than the male. The forewings have a relatively wide shape and are colored gray-brown or light brown. Pin, ring and kidney blemishes are mostly dark and very distinct. Transverse and wavy lines, however, are often formed only indistinctly. The hind wings of males are without markings and snow white, those of the females show a gray Saumbinde. In the male moths serrated to tip probes are emerging which are filiform in females it.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa
The yellowish brown egg has a flattened shape without ribs. It is provided with a dark-colored ring.
Full-grown caterpillars have a shiny blackish or dark brown color. They look plump and thick. Back and side lines are bright, but indistinct. There are thin gray bristles at the point warts.
The squat, bright reddish-brown pupa is characterized by two short spines at the hollowed-out cremaster.
Similar Species
A great similarity to Agrotis lata, but produces slightly smaller moths. The antennae of the males are more serrated to tip, at A. bigramma they are less strongly serrated and the serrations ending in front of the seats. The segments of the filiform antennae of females are at the apex of A. lata about twice as long as wide, with A. bigramma they are, however, only much shorter. In A. lata the top of the hind wings of the female usually shows a white veining. In A. lata the wedge spots are on the front wing upper surface, often longer and are more clearly developed, and the Diskalfleck on the hindwing underside is drawn mostly stronger.
Geographical distribution and habitat
In the wide -winged Erdeule is a predominantly southern species native throughout the Mediterranean region, including the North African coastal countries. In Central Europe, the northern border of Verbreizungsgebiets over Northern France, Northern Germany, the southern Baltic and across Russia to the Urals and Western Siberia runs to meet (up to about 82 ° eastern longitude ). In addition, it is widespread in the Middle East to Afghanistan.
The type preferably inhabits open areas, fields, pastures and fallow lands with rather sparse vegetation of herbaceous plants and shrubs
Way of life
The nocturnal moths fly mainly from July to September in one generation a year. Visit artificial light sources as well as the bait, like the flowers of the Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) or of tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare). The caterpillars are found from September. They feed mainly on the roots of grasses ( Poaceae ), overwinter and pupate in June of the following year in a hole in the ground. After Fibiger the caterpillars were already considered pests in vineyards on.
Endangering
The Broad -winged Erdeule comes in Germany in a different number before is not resident as rare and out on the red list of endangered species on the early warning list.
System
The species was known until recently as the scientific name Agrotis crassa ( Hübner, 1803). After examining the types of species described by Eugen Johann Christoph Esper 1790, it turned out that this name is a junior synonym of Phalaena Noctua bigramma Esper, 1790. The currently valid name is therefore Agrotis bigramma ( Esper, 1790).