Emmelia trabealis
Bindweed - Bunteulchen ( Emmelia trabealis )
The bindweed - Bunteulchen, also arable wind -floor Bunteulchen ( Emmelia trabealis ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 18-24 millimeters. The ground color of the forewings is dark brown. Directly at the hem is a dirty yellow, almost straight transverse line. The position of the cross line is low variable so that the fringes are yellowish or partly dark brown. Root Windwärts follows the first transverse line a wavy to slightly yellowish jagged transverse line. Prior to the inner edge and extends parallel to an additional yellow, straight line. Before the front edge there is another, winding yellow "line" with strong excesses on both sides. This line can be strongly developed and are then described rather as a yellow box with brown spots and indentations in some specimens. Rarely are also darkened, almost solid black brown colored specimens before, called f nigra. The hind wings are mostly dark brown and light towards the root on.
The green eggs are elongated, cone- shaped, with a flattened base and possess distinct longitudinal ribs. To the rounded tip are irregular red spots. The caterpillars are slender and have thickened thoracic segments. Their body color ranges from green to brown. The back line is darker and surrounded by lighter lines. The side strips are whitish to yellow, depending on the color of the caterpillar. The head is relatively small and brown. The vertex is highlighted and a little yellowish. The doll is relatively small, and reddish-brown or green.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The range of the species extends over large parts of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Russia to northern China and Japan. In the British Isles it is missing, as well as in large parts of North West Germany.
The animals live mainly in the plains to hill country, especially in areas that are more dry and warm. Therefore, the way in most regions of North West Germany and the low mountain ranges is missing. Preference is given to brownfield sites, dirt roads and sunny slopes on which the bindweed occurs ( Convolvulus arvensis). In the Alps, but they rise up to 2,000 meters. The species is still locally common, but their stocks appear to be declining. In the British Isles, the species is apparently extinct.
Way of life
The nocturnal moths fly annually in one or two generations from May to July and then again from August to early September. The second generation is usually incomplete and falls into unfavorable, cool years from even. The moths are easily disturbed in meadows. The caterpillars are in July and then find again from August to September. They feed exclusively on the flowers of bindweed. They are nocturnal and hide during the day in the flowers of the foodplant. The pupae overwinter, sometimes they hatch until the year after next. In breeding has been observed that they can even be up to four winter.
Threats and conservation
The bindweed - Bunteulchen is out in Germany on the early warning list (V ) Red List.