Ashworth's Rustic
Ashen Bodeneule ( Xestia ashworthii )
The Ashen Bodeneule ( Xestia ashworthii ), and Ashen Ampfereule, Ashen dock - Erdeule or prongs Cohesive herbal Erdeule is called ( Noctuidae ), a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms.
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan from 35 to 46 millimeters; however, it varies from subspecies to subspecies. The color and the drawing of the wings also vary extremely strong. This large variability has led to the formation of many shapes and taxa, but almost all were synonymized with one of the four subspecies:
- The Nominatunterart Xestia ashworthii ashworthii has a wingspan of 35 to 40 millimeters. The forewing has a blue-gray coloration with varying degrees of black Überstäubung. Transverse lines, medium shadows and blemishes are usually drawn clearly. The hind wings are almost uniformly dark gray-brown with white fringe.
- The subspecies Xestia ashworthii candelarum, with 38 to 49 mm wingspan on average, larger than the Nominatunterart has, almost single-colored light gray to blue- gray colored forewings, which occasionally may be tinted brown and light. Basal and distal parts of the wing may even be slightly yellowish. The transverse lines and blemishes are often formed only weak; the transverse lines start at the front edge with black spots. The hind wings are light gray and slightly darker at the fringes back.
- The subspecies Xestia ashworthii lactescens achieved with 42 to 46 millimeters larger on average wingspan and is distinguished by a milky white to silver- colored forewings without brown elements. The flaws are barely visible, the inner and outer cross- line, however, are drawn fine, but distinct. The light gray hind wings are slightly darker than the forewing.
- The subspecies Xestia ashworthii jotunensis has a wingspan of 35 to 45 millimeters. The forewings are extensive violet brown, rust brown to dark brown. The transverse lines and blemishes are indistinctly drawn up missing. The hind wings are colored light gray.
- The subspecies Xestia ashworthii artvina. The forewings are dark blue-gray, cross lines, medium shadows and blemishes are clearly drawn. The front edge is brightened and the hind wings are light gray
- The subspecies Xestia ashworthii sagrensis has a wingspan 43-44 mm and is in the basic color uniform yellowish gray-brown with white root Überstäubung in the field and along the costal margin. Cross lines and blemishes virtually non -existent with the exception of three diffuse black spots on the costal margin. In some specimens the outer transverse line is indicated by small, dark spots. The hind wings are white with a light, light brown tint.
Egg, caterpillar and chrysalis
The egg is hemispherical with strong ribs. It is bright yellow, black colored blue and reddish later before hatching. The caterpillars are black brown, gray to olive green in color and has an orange-red head with two bowings. The two fine ridge lines are drawn dark, the two secondary ridgelines bright in each case between the back lines and the addition ridge lines are eye-catching, black spots. Starting from about the 3 / 4 Segment as deep black longitudinal lines along the minor ridge lines and to the rear end clearly pronounced, narrow to wide wedge spots that are a little wider each backwards. The spiracles are white, spotted the abdomen with fine white spots. The squat doll has a short cremaster with two spines.
Similar Species
Due to the large variability in the staining, the type is also similar to many other owls butterflies, for example:
- Agrotis simplonia, and
- Euxoa birivia,
- Rhyacia helvetina,
- The ashen Erdeule ( Agrotis cinerea),
- The light gray Erdeule ( Euxoa decora ) and
- The Mountain Meadows Bodeneule ( Epipsilia grisescens )
All the above species are similar to ssp. candelarum, although a gray base color, cross and wavy lines have also, however, stand out from striking. The dark brown ssp. jotunensis is similar to other species, such as Euxoa aquilina or Euxoa cursoria, but for which there emerge kidney and ring toggling clearer.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The Ashen Bodeneule has a large distribution area, the south of Spain, the Pyrenees, Wales, South and Eastern France, the hills and mountain regions of Central Europe, Southern Scandinavia, Southern Finland, the Baltic States, Italy, the Balkans, Asia Minor and the Caucasus region, to Eastern Europe extends far into Siberia and Tibet. Main distribution area is the mountainous and hilly country, particularly rocky slopes and stony semi-dry lawns. In the Alps, it rises to around 2000 meters, in Southern Spain up to 2200 m and in Turkey to 2400 m. The subspecies are distributed as follows:
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. ashworthii ( Doubleday, 1855) comes in mountainous terrain in Wales before
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. candelarum (Staudinger, 1871) in Central Europe from the Pyrenees to the Alps and Pre-Alps and eastwards to Siberia and Tibet
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. jotunensis ( Schöyen, 1887) in Fennoscandia and the Baltic States
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. lactescens ( Turati, 1919), in central Italy.
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. artvina de Freina & Hacker, 1985, Turkey, Transcaucasia and the Caucasus
- Xestia ashworthii ssp. sagrensis Pérez López, 1993, Spain
Way of life
The moths of the ash-gray Bodeneule fly from June to August in one generation a year. Visit flowers, artificial light sources and are sometimes the bait. The caterpillars are found from August, they hibernate and pupate in May of the following year. They eat only at night, hide during the day under stones and feed on a wide variety of low plants, which include:
- Broadleaf thyme (Thymus pulegioides )
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum )
- Gray heather ( Erica cinerea),
- Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa ),
- Common Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea )
Markku Savela lists without source:
- Taraxacum sp. and
- Hawkweed ( Hieracium pilosella )
Ian Kimber are the following ways:
- Helianthemum chamaecistus
- Heather ( Calluna vulgaris)
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
On the website Hantsmoths - The Moths of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight following species are mentioned
- Helianthemum chamaecistus
- Sand thyme (Thymus serpyllum )
- Sheep Sorrel ( Rumex acetosella )
- Round-leaved bellflower ( Campanula rotundifolia )
- Salad Burnet ( Sanguisorba minor)
- Gray heather ( Erica cinerea)
- Goldenrod (Solidago )
- Lady's Bedstraw ( Galium verum)
- Creeping willow ( Salix repens )
- Foxgloves (Digitalis )
- Heather family ( Ericaceae )
Bergmann ( 1954) describes the species as " ... not rare, but nowhere ... often ... " ( in Thuringia).
Taxonomy and systematics
The species was described in 1855 by Henry Doubleday as Agrotis ashworthi first time scientifically. The holotype was captured in the summer of 1853 by a Mr. Ashworth at Llangollen ( Denbighshire County, North Wales). Fibiger lists three synonyms for this species, the taxon is currently divided into five subspecies, which have already been mentioned above.
Fibiger (1990 ) summarizes the nature together with Xestia c- nigrum ( Linnaeus ), Xestia ditrapezium ( Denis & Schiffer Müller), Xestia triangulum ( Hufnagel ), and Xestia kollarii in the subgenus megasema Hübner, 1823 together.
Endangering
The Ashen Bodeneule comes in central and southern Germany, although widely used before, but in a different frequency. It is classified on the Red List of endangered species of the Federal Republic of Germany in Category 3 (endangered ). In Brandenburg, North Rhine -Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Saxony on the other hand it is found already in Category 2 ( high risk ), in Saxony -Anhalt even in the Category 1 ( threatened with extinction ).