Lithacodia uncula
Ried- Grasmotteneulchen ( Deltote uncula )
The Ried- Grasmotteneulchen ( Deltote uncula ), also sedge Motteneulchen or olive-brown Grasmotteneule is called a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 22-25 millimeters. The fore wings are light brown in color, reddish brown to dark brown with two clearly distinct, white or yellowish lines that run along the front edge and along the outer shaft line. Basallinie, inner and outer transverse line are not developed, but outer shaft line and hemline are available. The kidneys blemish is white, cream or slightly yellowish and very well expressed. It stands at an angle and is slightly curved and extends into the costal line into it. The ring flaw, however, is only a triangular bulge of Kostal stroke for back wing center. The fringes are white, beige or light brown. The hind wings are uniformly gray in color with beige fringe. It is a narrow, black hemline available. The lower sides of the front and hind wings is almost uniformly dark brown, with a not very clearly developed Diskalfleck and an outer wavy line.
The egg is strongly flattened and yellowish. The surface is covered with numerous, irregular longitudinal ribs.
The caterpillars are greenish colored with an indistinct dark dorsal line. The side ridge lines, however, are kept bright as the base color, colored the side lines yellowish. The head is green, the spiracles red.
The doll is olive brown.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The Ried- Grasmotteneulchen has a very large distribution area, which extends from the western French Pyrenees to Japan. In the north it stretches to the southern and central England, Northern Ireland and Ireland, Scandinavia in the areas around the Baltic Sea, Finland and northern Russia. But mostly in the Mediterranean, with the exception of two smaller sites along the French Mediterranean coast and in Tuscany and on the northern Adriatic coast ( northern Italy, Slovenia and Croatia) you're missing. In Southeastern Europe, the distribution area stretches but far to the south to northern Albania and northern Greece. From there it moves on through southern Bulgaria, Ukraine, Crimea and Southern Russia, then via Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East ( Russian Far East, northern China, Japan, Korea).
The species prefers moist meadows, marshes, sedge and water edges.
Way of life
The Ried- Grasmotteneulchen forms two generations per year, the butterflies fly from May to July and August to September. The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal visit at night and flowers. They rest during the day in the vegetation, but are easy to flush. However, they will fly only a few meters and then settle back into the vegetation. They also come to artificial light sources. The caterpillars feed on grasses ( Poaceae ), eg Lawn Schmiele ( Deschampsia cespitosa ) and reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea ) and Sedge family ( Cyperaceae ), eg Species of the genera of sedges ( Carex ) and Zypergräser ( Cyperus ). Pupation takes place in a slight cocoon on the ground. The pupa overwinters.
Endangering
The species is listed in the Red List of the Federal Republic of Germany on the early warning list. In many German states, but it is already listed as endangered ( category 3), in Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland -Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony and Thuringia. In North Rhine -Westphalia, they will even put in Category 2 ( high risk ).