Dark Sword-grass
Black cutworm ( Agrotis ipsilon )
The black cutworm ( Agrotis ipsilon ), also called Ipsiloneule or Common herbs floor Bodeneule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 40-56 millimeters. The color of the forewings varies from light to dark brown, the females are usually darker than the males. Occasionally also occur grauweißlich - lightened and darkened gray - black copies. As with the exclamation mark and this type has a black line on the forewing, extending from a kidney-shaped stain in the posterior half of the wing and facing outward. For wing approach towards lie two smaller arrow marks that point from outside to inside. The hind wings are white and look almost transparent.
The eggs are flattened, slightly ribbed and slightly yellowish, later becoming darker.
The caterpillars are earth-brown in color and shine to gray- brown. The underside is usually somewhat brighter.
The pupa is reddish brown.
Geographical distribution and habitat
One finds this kind in open spaces such as gardens or fields worldwide, with the exception of the tropics. It is lacking in Europe only in northern Scandinavia and northern Russia. However, the global stocks fluctuate widely and are very weather dependent. In Central Europe they prefer the warmer, lower altitudes, but also come in smaller numbers in the low mountain ranges before.
Way of life
Every year fly the Ypsiloneulen in mostly large numbers of the Mediterranean areas across the Alps to central Europe. The number varies widely depending on the weather in Italy and Spain. Individual moths seem to survive even mild winters in Europe. The flown, the few remaining or newly hatched butterflies in spring from overwintering caterpillars lay their eggs from April and then die. Occasionally, also for proliferation depending on the number of flown moths and the weather in Central Europe. In a year with mild winters caterpillars survive various stages in Germany. In a severe winter not only the remaining few moths, but also most of caterpillars and pupae die. The moths can therefore, with the exception of the winter months meet almost all year round in Central Europe. Flown butterfly can be found more frequently in Central Europe from April to June. Between July and November, then flies a second generation, either the progeny of the few winter visitors or immigrants in Central Europe. The maximum of the flight is in August / September, at higher altitudes a little later. The majority of late -hatched butterflies then pulls back into the south and seems to lay any more eggs. At least a strong migratory instinct was observed in mass breeding. Whether the moths actually arrive back in the Mediterranean areas, is not sure how many migrant butterfly species. Few moths try here to hibernate, to lay their eggs in spring in Central Europe. The moths visit flowers and let the bait with sugar. Under favorable conditions, three to four generations per year are formed.
The caterpillars burrow into the ground to get at the roots of the plants. They feed on the roots of wild grasses, but also of crops such as cabbage and various vegetables. Also in sugar beet fields, mass occurrences have been observed. The hibernation and pupation occurs in a small cavity.
As an adaptation to the migrations in the colder regions show these moths a relatively short development time. The Eiraupen hatch after one to three weeks from the eggs. In summer the caterpillars grow very fast within one month approach, and the pupal period is also short-lived.
Nomenclature
The German name cutworm comes from a long used the wrong spelling of the species name wye ago. The original by the author Johann Siegfried Hufnagel 1766 proposed name is but ipsilon, which may not be changed according to the rules of zoological nomenclature also due to the alleged wrong spelling. Therefore it is said in German cutworm, but the scientific species name is Agrotis ipsilon.