Agrotis vestigialis
Kiefernsaateule ( Agrotis vestigialis )
Called The Kiefernsaateule ( Agrotis vestigialis ), also Grey Wurzeleule is ( Noctuidae ), a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms.
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The wingspan of the butterfly is from 32 to 44 millimeters. The forewings vary greatly in color. These range from light brown to blue-gray and violet-brown to black -brown. What is striking is the contrast drawing with large, dark Zapf blemish, small, indistinct ring stain and large, dark kidney blemish. The inner root field is often reddish brown. An extended, brighter root line with underlying dark brown area in the middle reaches to the kidneys blemish. Between outer transverse line and wavy line, there are several key spots inward. Especially characteristic is the strongly serrated, bright wavy line, which has in the middle of a striking character in the form of the letter W located. The Saumfeld is dark. The hind wings are gray-brown, the outside darkens slightly and show a faint, crescent -shaped center spot. The antennae of the males are combed in contrast to those of the females. The following color variations have been described:
- F sagittiferus, Haw. , with dark brown front wings
- F albidior, pet, with whitish forewings
- F nigra, Tutt. , with darkened blackish forewings
The caterpillar is earthy gray colored, occasionally greenish, or reddish temporarily. She has a fine, dark, double back line as well as bright, dark taped side stripes.
The pupa is reddish brown, the pointed cremaster has two closely arranged spines on.
Similar Species
- Agrotis graslini, Rambur, 1848, with emphasized contrast drawn forewings
- Agrotis endogaea, Boisduval, 1837, with wider and more rounded front wings and long tap blemish
- Agrotis sabulosa, Rambur, 1839, with white hind wings
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species occurs widely in Europe before, except in northern Finland and Norway and in the Mediterranean. Eastwards reaches the occurrence of Russia across Siberia to the Altai and the Amur region. The Kiefernsaateule is bound to sandy areas and occasionally there often.
Way of life
The KIefernsaateule is one generation per year, flying the moth of July to September. The moths are diurnal and nocturnal and suck on flowers such as Ragwort ( Semecio jacobaea ) or oregano (Origanum vulgare). They also come to the bait and fly to artificial light sources. The caterpillars feed from September as cutworm preferably from the roots of grasses, Labkräutern ( Galium ), chickweed ( Stellaria ) or young pines ( Pinus ), whereby they can be harmful in pine plantations. This behavior was also decisive for the naming. The main food intake takes place in the spring. They overwinter as young caterpillar. After six to eight weeks after Vorpuppenzeit Rangnow Fiedler and pupation takes place in July.
Endangering
The species occurs in Germany in dry, sandy areas spread before, is there area as often and therefore not classified on the red list of threatened species as endangered, but in Baden- Württemberg and North Rhine -Westphalia is near threatened.
System
In 1994, the new subspecies Agrotis vestigialis described by G. Stangelmaier and E. Lexer from Friuli -Venezia Giulia morandinii.