Clay (moth)
Hooded Graseule ( Mythimna ferrago )
The Hooded Graseule ( Mythimna ferrago ), also known as Shining Weißfleckeule or fresh grass Weißfleckeule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan 36-41 Millimeter.mm The moths of the second generation formed in climatically favorable regions are significantly smaller than the moths of the first generation. The ground color of the forewings is pale gray to yellow rust. Cold forms tend to be weaker red with a gray weft, thermoforming rather reddish yellow to rusty red. The front, lined dark brown, slightly wavy lateral line is almost always incompletely formed, the middle part is always drawn a little stronger. The outer, strongly serrated transverse line is drawn very fine dark and bends towards the inner edge down sharply. She is often reduced to a series of dots; the points sit on the wing venation. Apikalstrich and wavy line are usually indicated only shadow -like or almost absent. The kidneys blemish is crescent shaped. The front edge, facing the half is lighter than the ground color, which opens onto the inner rim half is white. This white point is located at the distal end of the central cell. The kidneys blemish is surrounded by a darker shade. The Diskalfleck missing. The wing venation is almost always visible. The hind wings are dark gray and the costal margin toward brighter. The fringes are clearly brighter than the ground color. The male is well marked by a triangular array consisting of black hair on the underside of the abdomen.
The egg is spherical and flattened at the base of something. It is smooth on the outside and white.
The brown- yellow caterpillar has a bright, dark -rimmed topline. The side ridge lines are narrow, white and limited towards the back of a brown or black line. The side strips are whitish and relatively wide, the spiracles black. The belly is yellowish gray in color and black polka dots. The tan head wearing a dark grid pattern. It will grow 38 to 43 millimeters long.
The squat, relatively thick doll is colored reddish brown. It contributes to the rounded cremaster two curved tip bristles and four hook-shaped, curved, shorter bristles.
Similar Species
The Hooded Graseule similar to the white point Graseule ( Mythimna albipuncta ) very strong and is often not easy to distinguish in flown condition. This has normally pronounced transverse lines and the kidneys stigma is reduced to the white spot
Geographical distribution and habitat
The range of the species extends from Northwest Africa (Morocco ) over Southern, Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Iraq, the Caucasus, Central Asia to Tibet and the Altai. The northern boundary of the area reached northern Scotland and southern Fennoscandia ( approximately up to 63 ° latitude). In southern Europe the species is found up to southern Italy and southern Greece. It is also native to the large Mediterranean islands.
The Hooded Graseule inhabited almost all grassy habitats of dry warm grassy slopes to cool moist meadows near bogs and riparian zones of water bodies. She even comes along forest paths, clearings and glades in woods outside as well as in villages and cultivated land. In the Alps, it rises up to 1700 meters on (or about 2000 m ).
Way of life
The Hooded Graseule forms one to two generation (s) per year fly the butterfly from June to August and May to June and from July to September. The second generation seems to be well- formed exclusively south of the Alps, as well appears only one generation per year in Baden- Württemberg. The moths are strictly nocturnal, are strongly attracted by artificial light sources and come to the bait. Visit flowers and sucking nectar. The eggs are laid in one or two rows in a folded or curled leaf. The little caterpillars grouped hatch after about a week. The caterpillars feed on grasses and herbaceous plants. They hide during the day on the ground and crawl at night high on their food crops to feed. At caterpillar food plants mentioned:
- White bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera )
- Meadow Foxtail ( Alopecurus pratensis)
- Common oat grass ( Arrhenatherum elatius )
- Pinna - Zwenke ( Brachypodium pinnatum )
- Upright Brome ( Bromus erectus )
- Defenseless brome ( Bromus inermis )
- Wood small-reed ( Calamagrostis arundinacea )
- Small-reed ( Calamagrostis epigejos )
- Cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata )
- Lawn Schmiele ( Deschampsia cespitosa )
- Wire Schmiele ( Deschampsia flexuosa )
- Creep couch grass ( Elymus repens )
- Tube fescue ( Festuca arundinacea )
- Genuine sheep fescue ( Festuca ovina )
- Meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis)
- Ordinary red fescue ( Festuca rubra)
- Woolly honey grass ( Holcus lanatus )
- Luzulo ( Luzula )
- Millet ( Milium effusum )
- Pipe - moor grass ( Molinia arundinacea )
- Plantain ( Plantago )
- Grove bluegrass ( Poa nemoralis )
- Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis)
- Rough bluegrass ( Poa trivialis )
- Common chickweed ( Stellaria media )
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum )
The caterpillars overwinter. Pupation carried in a loose cocoon in the earth.
Systematics and Taxonomy
The species was described in 1775 by Johann Christian Fabricius in 1787 as Noctua ferrago first time scientifically. The type material came from the area around Kiel. For this taxon exist at least six synonyms, one of which lithargyria Esper, 1788 (also lithargyrea ) has found widespread use in the literature. It appears lithargyria in the combinations Leucania lithargyria and Hyphilare. The genus Hyphilare Hübner, 1821 is now interpreted only as a subgenus of Mythimna. The ( sub) genus Ferrathimna Beck, 1999 is a junior, objective synonym of Tiliecea Tutt, 1896. It is the type species of the genus tiliacea Tutt, 1896 and the ( sub) genus Ferrathimna Beck, 1999. Some authors subdivide the genus Mythimna in subgenera. In this subgenus outline is ferrago Fabricius in the subgenus Mythimna ( Hyphilare ) Hübner, made in 1821.
Currently, two subspecies are known:
- Mythimna ferrago ferrago that Nominatunterart in the largest part of the range
- Mythimna ferrago caliginata Hreblay, 1999, Pakistan, darker, often blackish ground color of the forewings
The previously considered as subspecies meridionalis Dannehl, 1926 (southern Alpine valleys ) was developed by Hacker et al. (2002) reunited with the Nominatunterart and only interpreted as a color variation.
Endangering
The Hooded Graseule applicable in Germany as not at risk.