Diloba caeruleocephala

Blue head ( Diloba caeruleocephala ) in Nordisk familjebok

The blue head ( Diloba caeruleocephala ), also called white-eye, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ), which occurs in Europe and adjacent areas. It owes its name to the German blue head of the otherwise conspicuous yellow-white- black-colored caterpillar. The blue head is the only species of the genus Diloba, which in turn is the sole genus of the subfamily Dilobinae.

Features

Butterfly

The moths have a wingspan of 34-40 millimeters, the males are slightly smaller than females on average. The heavily combed sensor of the male and the thick, woolly hairy body of the female are rather untypical for cutworms, which is why the type ( which pupates in a cocoon ) was initially not in the family of cutworms classified. The front wings are crossed by two strongly serrated on the inner edge very approaching, black horizontal lines. The area bounded by these jaggy midfield is dark brown, reddish brown, the field of the root to the first angular line. The field between the hem and external angular line is at the contact with the angular line still mostly dark brown and becomes the hem down rapidly in light gray. The two greenish yellow flowing intertwining ring blemish touch each kidney defect and form a bright, upstanding night. Therefore, in English occurs because the name " Figure of Eight " her. The flaws are cored usually more or less distinct dark. At the level of the renal defect and still within the central panel is a narrow, alternately dark brown and white, directly parallel to the front edge extending zone. The hind wings of the males are whitish, those of the females gray. Usually, the middle and outer transverse line and the Diskalfleck are significantly developed.

Egg

The egg is hemispherical and first white; later it becomes yellowish and yellowish brown in front of the hatch. It has the fresh state 13 to 16 wide, greenish longitudinal ribs.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are relatively thick, relatively short and rounded in cross-section at all stages. The Eiraupe is light to dark brown and has long bristles on the entire body top. The second larval instar is black with yellow backs lines. The head is off-white with two black dorsal stripe. The third larval instar is blue-gray with yellowish, subdorsalen bands. The head is now fitted gray blue with two large black spots. The penultimate stage is similar to the third larval instar. In the last larval instar, the caterpillar is greenish to bluish and carries on the back and on the side is a row yellow stains that are so close together in some specimens that they result in almost three longitudinal stripes. All over the body distributes the caterpillar has black warts with individual bristles. The head is blue with two black dots. The adult caterpillar is up to 40 millimeters long.

Doll

The doll is relatively short and thick. It is reddish brown with a light shade of blue. At the rear end, two lateral projections are present, sitting on each of which four bristles.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in most of Europe with the exception of northern Scandinavia, the northern part of the British Isles and northern Russia. In the south it is in North Africa to the Middle East ( Lebanon, Israel and Jordan) and in Asia Minor to Iran and Kazakhstan. But is largely missing in Portugal. The focus of the distribution is in southern Europe. In Central Europe the species mainly in the mountains is spread to about 1,000 meters, but not often. There it lives mainly on forest edges and in bushes, but also in extensive orchards and vineyards.

Way of life

In Central Europe, the nocturnal moth flies in one generation from late August to November so belongs to the so-called "Autumn Owl ". In warmer areas multiple generations can be formed. He is attracted to the light and sits by day on tree trunks or walls. Under optimal temperature conditions, the moths mate about three days after hatching. After three days, the eggs are deposited. They are stored in groups of a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 155 eggs on the food plants. In Central Europe, the egg overwinters in warmer regions and the butterfly. In spring the caterpillars (Prunus domestica), Padus, pears appear on woody rosaceous especially on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), besides also on apples (Malus ), Eingriffeligem hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna ), plums (Pyrus ), flour berries ( Sorbus ), willow ( Salix), oak (Quercus ), poplar (Populus ), hazel (Corylus ) and others The Eiraupen feed on buds and at the bottom of fresh leaves, while older caterpillars eat the leaves. In Turkey, can cause mass propagated a significant harmful effect on almond, apple, pear, peach, apricot, plum and cherry trees the way. The caterpillar produces a sized cocoon that is attached to solid ground of the earth, in columns or bark.

System

The systematic classification of Diloba caeruleocephala is complicated and has changed several times. Within the taxonomic system of butterflies the way has been the owls butterflies, spinners tooth ( Notodontidae ) associated Trägspinnern ( Lymantriidae ) and the owls spinners ( Thyratirinae ). Kitching (1984 ) provides an overview of the taxonomic history.

The populations in the Middle East, Asia Minor, Iran and Kazakhstan are excreted as separate subspecies Diloba caeruleocephala armena Staudinger, 1871.