Agrotis cinerea
Ashen Erdeule ( Agrotis cinerea)
The Ashen Erdeule ( Agrotis cinerea), also dry grassland Erdeule, Ashen Ashen Ampfereule or Graswurzeleule called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the butterfly is 33 to 40 millimeters. The coloration of the fore wings varied in different shades of gray, from light gray to brown gray to dark gray. Female moths are darker in general. The kidneys are brownish tinted blemish and indistinctly limited, ring and pin flaw missing. Transverse and wavy lines are usually drawn clearly dark. Frequently is still a means shade available. The hind wings have a whitish-gray to gray-brown color. Characteristic features are the strongly serrated antennae of male moths.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa
The yellowish-white egg has a vaguely ribbed surface. Adults caterpillars are mostly earthy gray and thus their environment to match the color well. You have on the back and on the sides, some indistinct, dark lines and stripes. Black point warts stand out intense. The red-brown doll is characterized by a comb-like cremaster with two short spines.
Similar Species
Some also equipped with a gray ground color ways, for example Agrotis simplonia, Euxoa birivia, Rhyacia helvetina, the light gray Erdeule ( Agrotis decora ), the mountain meadows Bodeneule ( Epipsilia grisescens ), and Ashen Bodeneule ( Xestia ashworthii ssp. Candelarum ) resemble the ashen Erdeule. Characteristics distinguishing cinerea whose early flight time, the strongly serrated antennae of the males and the females usually darker colored.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species occurs from Morocco through most of Europe to the Urals before. She is also in the northern part of Asia Minor, the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea basin to be found. In the Alps, it rises to around 2000 meters altitude. Preferred habitat is rocky slopes, rocky lean lawns and vegetated screes.
Way of life
The diurnal and nocturnal moths fly from late April to late June, and artificial light sources, bait and flowers, such as those of barberry (Berberis vulgaris). In autumn, the caterpillars feed mainly on the roots and lower leaves of several herbaceous plants and grasses. These include chickweed ( Stellaria media ), alfalfa (Medicago sativa ) and sorrel ( Rumex ) and dandelion species ( Taraxacum ). They overwinter and pupate grown mainly in April of the following year in a burrow under stones.
Endangering
In Germany, the Ashen Erdeule comes regionally in very different numbers, but was even detected on the islands of Usedom and Hiddensee. On the red list of endangered species it is in Category 3 (endangered ) out.