Cucullia lucifuga
Herbal Monk ( Cucullia lucifuga )
The herbal monk ( Cucullia lucifuga ), also Thistle monk or safflower gray monk called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The relatively large moths reach a wingspan from 38 to 55 millimeters and have a varying in different shades of gray staining. The front wings are wider than in many other Cucullia species. Transverse lines, and strokes are often formed indistinct. The kidneys blemish stands out sometimes a little more clearly from the background. At the hemline some small, black arrow spots can be seen. The hind wings of males have a gray-white ground color with clearly marked veins in the female moths outweigh gray-brown tints. The fringes are colored white. Characteristic of the type is a blackish back strip that extends from the chest to above the abdomen.
Caterpillar, and chrysalis
Younger caterpillars are initially colored black and yellow show back and side stripes. Adult animals are characterized by conspicuous red dotted stripe, which set them apart from other Cucullia species. In some ways they resemble the caterpillars of the Red Apollo ( Parnassius apollo ).
The red-brown doll has a spoon-shaped hollowed cremaster and a long proboscis sheath.
Similar Species
The moths of the also relatively large and equipped with even wider wings Cos monk ( Cucullia lactucae ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775) differ by the absence of blackish back strip from the thorax over the abdomen. Even with this very similar way, the fringes of the hind wings are brownish, by contrast, lucifuga white. The shadow of the Monk ( Cucullia umbratica ) (Linnaeus, 1758) typical ocher-colored spot on the forewings absent in lucifuga. From the following gray monk owls:
- Bellflower monk ( Cucullia campanulae ) ( Freyer, 1831),
- Cucullia fraterna ( Butler, 1878),
- Dark gray Gold Aster monk ( Cucullia xeranthemi ) ( Boisduval, 1840),
- Tansy Monk ( Cucullia tanaceti ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775) and
- Chamomile monk ( Cucullia chamomillae ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775)
To lucifuga usually differs by the wider wings. However, the above distinguishing features are low, so to reliably determine a genitalmorphologische investigation is advised.
As the caterpillars of lucifuga are unmistakable, a unique assignment can also be done by breeding.
Occurrence and habitat
The species is mainly widespread in Europe in the middle regions of the hilly and mountainous country. In Asia, she comes across the moderate climate zones prior to the Kuril Islands and Japan. It is also to be found in Tibet and Armenia. In the Alps, it rises up to 2000 meters altitude, in other mountain ranges up to 3500 meters. As a habitat different places come into question, pastures, Ödländereien, slopes, scree slopes, embankments, gardens and parks.
Way of life
The herbal monk is in the northern areas of distribution one generation per year, with the main flight period lasts from May to June. In the southern, warmer regions in addition a second generation in July and August and sometimes an incomplete third generation flies in October. The nocturnal moths like to visit artificial light sources. The caterpillars live polyphagous in various plant species. These include:
- Coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara )
- Alpine butterbur ( Petasites paradoxus )
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum ) and
- Geese thistles ( Sonchus ).
Preferred food are the buds, flowers and fruit stands, rarely the leaves of the plants. The caterpillars are sitting during the day free and unmolested to the forage crops. Obviously, they are not attractive or repulsive due to their colorful warning coloration to potential enemies. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Endangering
The species occurs only in some German federal states and is run on the Red List of endangered species in Category 2 ( high risk ).