Hydraecia micacea

Markeule ( Hydraecia micacea )

Called The Markeule ( Hydraecia micacea ), also shore herbaceous Markeule or shore marsh forbs - Markeule or Hopfenmarkeule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). Basically, it is a complex of three very similar mittel-/nordeuropäischen species whose independence was recognized in 1952 and 1965 respectively. The old common name Markeule could therefore copies of all three types described, as the species are not distinguished; in practice it has been limited to Hydracea micacea (see Lepiforum ). A fourth very similar species has its main distribution in Siberia to the Far East. The three European species are difficult to distinguish on the basis of external characteristics of the moths.

• 6.1 Notes and references
• 6.2 Literature

Features

The moths of Markeule are strikingly different in size; the wing span varies from 30 to 50 mm (35 mm). Head and thorax are brown, light brown of the abdomen. The antennae of the males are lamellat - ciliate, the females of the simple - thready. The forewings are pale ocher -colored to gray -brown in color. The moth varies little in the drawing itself, but in the intensity of drawing is a large variability observed. The coloring of the individual blade sections is highly variable. Often also a wavy root line is seen. Inner and outer transverse line marked dark brown and sharp, as well as the hem line. In contrast, the wavy line is occasionally only weakly developed or may be absent. The inner transverse line runs rather round-arched, only the front inwardly curved arch is slightly tipped or broken. The outer transverse line runs approximately parallel to the outer edge and bends at Kostal edge sharply root downward. It is often additionally go up or set down for brighter Saumfeld by a lighter line. In the outer part of the middle field, a dark shadow is usually formed, which may be absent. Occasionally, the shadow moves between the Swap and the rear edge of the outer transverse line to the inner transverse line. The Toggle ( Ring and kidney blemish ) are relatively large, margins dark brown and usually held in the color or only slightly brighter. In some specimens a faint, dark brown shadow agent is formed, which may pass through between kidney and ring stain. The wing venation is usually somewhat darker than the base color and stands out especially in Saumfeld most significantly.

The hind wings are yellowish to pale brownish, the veins is sometimes dusted brown. The hemline is brown and broken. A dark spot means is provided and on the underside visible. A median line is also usually present. Some copies also still have a weak, slightly darker binding between the center line and hem line.

The flattened, hemispherical egg is after the first filing shiny yellowish white; it is later reddish yellow. The surface has many irregular ribs.

The reddish to yellowish pink caterpillar shows a dark dorsal line and a lighter ventral side. The lateral line is dotted dark. The point warts and the spiracles are black in color. The head is shiny reddish-brown or yellowish, the pronotum yellowish.

The red-brown to light brown doll is relatively thin, with smooth and shiny surface. The cremaster is relatively small and has two small, slightly diverging and curved downward spikes.

Similar Species

The species is very similar to two other occurring in Europe Hydraecia species whose distribution areas located partly with H. micacea overlap: Hydraecia ultima and Hydraecia nordstroemi. In the state flown the moths of the three species are hard to distinguish. Also fresh butterflies are due to the variability of the moths in color and markings sometimes difficult to determine. If in doubt, specimens can be safely determined and distinguished only by a genital examination. The southern boundary of the spread of H. nordstroemi runs of Southern Denmark, Southern Sweden to the Baltic States and southern Finland. The western boundary of the spread of H. ultima other hand runs approximately through the eastern Baden- Württemberg North Germany and Denmark, the northern boundary then runs through southern Sweden and southern Finland, across Russia to the Urals. The southern boundary runs in the Alps through southern Austria to Northern Hungary and Northern Romania to the Black Sea. A determination by locality is therefore limited possible (but see comment below systematics). The caterpillars of the three types differ only very little. There is also a fourth species very similar, Hydraecia mongoliensis Urbahn, 1967, which, however, does not occur in Central Europe. The distribution area extends from the southern Urals (Russia and European part of Kazakhstan ) over Siberia, Mongolia and Japan.

• In Hydraecia micacea the dark shadow in the outer midfield is usually less pronounced than in H. nordstroemi. The forewings are slightly wider and on the hind wings a Diskalfleck is formed, which is absent in H. nordstroemi. The Saumfeld rises almost always very much brighter from midfield from; the outer transverse line is outside often white or very light lined. The inner cross- line is less angled below the cell, more rounded than in the other two species. The outer transverse line bends at Costalrand far back root downward. On average, it is the largest of the three species.
• Hydraecia nordstroemi: With a wingspan from 28 to 38 mm, it is the smallest of the three species on average. The forewings are relatively wide and short but relatively narrower than in H. micacea. She has the darkest shade means of the three types, but there are also copies with little apparent trained agents shadows. The ground color is often dark brown and the color is Saumfeld barely lifted from the midfield. The flaws stand out in dark specimens hardly on the base color. On the hind wings there is no or only a vaguely educated middle spot ( for very dark specimens ). The hind wing color is relatively dark, mostly (light ) brown.
• Hydraecia ultima: With a wingspan 30-44 mm, it is on average between the two other species. The forewings are relatively long and slender, the differences in the intensity of the colors are rather low; that is, it is colored rather uniform.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The Markeule is spread almost all over Europe. In the north, the range extends up to the Shetland Islands and the northern Fennoscandia. In the south it extends to central Spain, central Italy and Bulgaria. You missing on the Mediterranean islands. The distribution area extends further over Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, North and Central Asia to the Russian Far East. In southern Europe, but it is restricted to the higher mountain regions. The evidence of the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Japan and Korea referred to in the older literature are now based on two closely related species.

In the 1920s, she was introduced to eastern North America and has since spread in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. In the 1970s, they had reached the Midwest.

It is largely missing in the mountains, rises there and in the hills at about 800 meters above sea level.

The Markeule preferred moist cool habitats such as river and stream valleys, wetlands and marshes and bogs. The active flight butterflies also appear in dry and warm places.

Way of life

The Markeule forms from one generation per year, the moths rarely fly in a long flight period from mid-July, even as early as June until end of September. Individual moths are found until well into October. The moths are nocturnal and only come during the night also to artificial light sources. They come rather sparse at the bait. During the day they rest in the vegetation. Eggs are laid in rows on the food plants of the caterpillars. The egg overwinters .. The Eiraupen hatch in May, a few were already too late April. The caterpillars feed on and live in the stems, roots and tubers of various (useful) plants. You can occasionally occur harmful to crops The caterpillars have cannibalistic tendencies when they encounter conspecifics. In the literature, called on food crops:

• Giersch ( Aegopodium podagraria )
• Onion (Allium cepa )
• Garlic ( Allium sativum )
• Bog rosemary ( Andromeda )
• Burdock ( Arctium )
• Arundo Phragmitis
• Report ( Atriplex )
• Oat (Avena sativa)
• Beet ( Beta vulgaris)
• Cabbage ( Brassica )
• Sedges ( Carex )
• Common chicory (Cichorium intybus )
• High nutsedge ( Cyperus longus )
• Horsetail ( Equisetum arvense)
• Pond horsetail ( Equisetum fluviatile )
• Meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria )
• Garden strawberry ( Fragaria ananassa )
• Musk strawberry ( Fragaria moschata)
• Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca )
• Hill Strawberry ( Fragaria viridis)
• Gladiolus ( Gladiolus )
• Water plumes ( Glyceria maxima)
• Glyceria spectabilis
• Sunflowers ( Helianthus )
• Hordeum sativum
• Real Hops ( Humulus lupulus)
• Incarvillea
• Swamp Iris (Iris pseudacorus )
• Ligularia
• Gänseblümchenblättriger beach Lilac ( Limonium bellidifolium )
• Common lilac beach ( Limonium vulgare)
• Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
• Tobacco (Nicotiana )
• White Butterbur ( Petasites alba)
• Reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea )
• Reed (Phragmites australis)
• Plantain ( Plantago lanceolata)
• Beach - plantain ( Plantago maritima )
• Vogelknöteriche ( Polygonum )
• Garden radish ( Raphanus sativus )
• Siberian rhubarb ( Rheum rhaponticum )
• Raspberry (Rubus idaeus )
• Water Dock ( Rumex aquaticus )
• Vegetable sorrel ( Rumex longifolius )
• Rumex dock ( Rumex obtusifolius )
• Teeblättrige willow ( Salix phylicifolia )
• Meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis)
• Rye ( Secale cereale )
• Potato ( Solanum tuberosum)
• Siberian Fiederspiere ( Sorbaria sorbifolia )
• Acker woundwort ( Stachys arvensis)
• Wheat ( Triticum )
• Coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara )
• Broad-leaved cattail ( Typha latifolia )
• Maize (Zea mays)

The caterpillar pupates in a hole in the ground.

System

The taxon was described in 1789 by Eugen Johann Christoph Esper as Phalaena Noctua micacea first time scientifically. The way was then used to type species of the genus Hydraecia Guenée, 1841 determined. However, this name was changed in 1847 by Louis Agassiz in Hydroecia. This false spelling of the genus name sat in the literature largely through (see the references cited herein Bergmann ). Only in more recent work, the correct spelling of the genus has been used again. The type material for micacea came from Tyrol. The " types for this taxon are no longer comprehensible ."

In 1952 and 1965 respectively was recognized that hide in Europe under the name Hydraecia micacea three taxa, although the two newly separated species ( Hydraecia nordstroemi Horke, 1952, Hydraecia ultima Holst, 1965) only in parts of the range of H. micacea occur. In Western Europe, as is found only H. micacea, while in the Baltic States and southern Scandinavia, all three species can occur sympatrically. However, migratory moths can also be found far beyond their actual distribution area. Accordingly, the older literature on the spread is partly unusable, since it has not yet been made ​​between the three types. Even today, the distribution areas of the two most recently separated species are poorly known. It is not entirely ruled out that could populations of H. nordstroemi and H. ultima exist outside the distribution areas mentioned above. A " determination by locality " could return incorrect results therefore likewise. Ebert and Steiner found but at genitalmorphologisch certain copies in Baden- Württemberg only H. micacea. As it stands, it is unlikely that the two later separated species are much more widespread than in the above indicated areas.

Endangering

The Markeule is not at risk in Germany.

Swell