Hecatera dysodea
Kompasslatticheule ( Hecatera dysodea )
The Kompasslatticheule ( Hecatera dysodea ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moth has a wingspan of 25 to 30 mm. The antennae of the males have short lashes, the antennae of the female are filiform. The forewings have two jagged lines cross, the outer angular line is strongly curved. The ground color of the forewings is gray white with ocher- brown to almost orange red areas around the brokering and transverse lines around, but they are highly variable. And the inner side of the seam line has triangular, often orange-red spots. The midfield is darker with a color impact in Olive. Ring spot or blemish kidneys are outlined in bright and black. The hind wings are whitish. The Saumbereiche and a transverse line are slightly darker. The Diskalfleck is formed indistinct.
Egg
The whitish egg is spherical, but flattened at the bottom. It has strong, irregular longitudinal ribs.
Caterpillar
The back of the caterpillar is brownish - green yellowish green with brownish speckles, the ventral side. The topline is relatively thin, light and dark surrounds. The side ridge lines are slightly wavy, the side lines yellowish. The caterpillar has a brown colored head.
Doll
The slim doll is reddish brown; the cremaster is cone-shaped with projecting bristles.
Geographical distribution and behavior
The species is widespread throughout central Europe to the Urals. You lack in Scandinavia with the exception of Skåne (Sweden) almost completely. In England, the species was extinct in the early 20th century. She has now re-populated the south (Kent, Essex ) .. The northern boundary of the distribution moves further from the Baltic Sea through the southern part of Lithuania, White Russia, south of Moscow to the Urals. In the south, North Africa is the distribution limit. In the east, the distribution area of the Middle East extends to Central Asia.
The moths are found mainly on the edge or in towns. They prefer dry ruderal areas, industrial wastelands, roadsides, embankments, gardens and parks. In the Alps soar up to 1400 m.
Way of life
The moths fly from May to August. However, the number of individuals is quite low in the first few months. In early July takes the density of individuals to suddenly and reached a maximum in mid-month. Thereafter, the number of individuals decreases again considerably. It is not yet clear whether it is not a partial second generation in the flying animals in August. In breeding is possible by keeping warm the dolls. The caterpillars are usually found from July. They feed on Mauerlattich ( Mycelis muralis ), spiked lettuce ( Lactuca serriola also compass cos ), Poison lettuce (Lactuca virosa ), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Hasenlattich ( Prenanthes purpurea). They pupate before winter and the doll wintered. Or they hatch under favorable conditions in August (2nd generation). The moths are attracted by light. They were observed while sucking on Buddleia ( Buddleia ).
Endangering
Hecatera dysodea has become much less common in recent decades. Ruderalstellen are increasingly used intensively. The roadsides are mowed too often. In the last two decades, the kind in Copenhagen ( Denmark) and Malmö / Sweden), for example, have become quite numerous, though in the vicinity of these cities, the population density remained quite low. This is explained due to the higher average temperature of cities compared to the surrounding area.