Lithophane furcifera
Brown Grey Holzeule ( Lithophane furcifera )
The Brown Grey Holzeule ( Lithophane ( Lithophane ) furcifera ), also Dark gray alder moth called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the butterfly is 42 to 48 millimeters. The color of the forewings varies from slate gray to dark gray-brown. Sometimes they are slightly pink or purple dusted. At the wing root a narrow white yellow lightening is visible. The kidneys blemish is filled tall and mostly brown. Ring and cone blemish stand out blurry. The same applies to the cross- lines. Flashy is a black Wurzelstrieme and also a black longitudinal line below the renal defect. The wavy line is dark brown. The hind wings are gray-brown without markings. The proboscis of the moths is well developed. The antennae of the males are ciliated. On the head, thorax and abdomen are erect hair tufts.
Egg, caterpillar and chrysalis
The semi-spherical, yellow-white egg is provided with strong corrugated fins and two red spots in the central zone.
Young caterpillars are green in color and show longitudinal white lines and well colored point warts. Adult caterpillars are mostly dark brown with some bright drawing elements.
The doll shows a bicuspid cremaster where there are some bristles.
Similar Species
The Brown Holzeule ( Lithophane ( Lithophane ) consocia ) is a bit more colorful and colored contrast. The white and yellow box at the front wing root is wider. The wavy line is usually whitish. Ring and kidney blemish are inside light border.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to many parts of Central Europe and eastwards was also detected to the Black Sea region, the Caucasus and western Siberia. In the mountains, it rises up to 1800 meters. The Brown Grey Holzeule can mainly be found in alder and birch bogs, flood plains, swamp forests, shoreline areas and parklands.
Way of life
The moths fly in one generation from August. They overwinter and live until June of the following year. In the spring they were occasionally observed sucking on willow flowers ( Salix). They are nocturnal and fly sometimes on artificial light sources, especially like also applied bait. The caterpillars live from May to July. They feed preferentially from the leaves following deciduous trees:
- Birch (Betula ),
- Oaks (Quercus ),
- Alder ( Alnus ),
- Willow ( Salix),
- Poplars (Populus ).
Endangering
The species occurs in the German states in different number but which is considered on the red list of threatened species as not at risk.
Systematics and Taxonomy
In the subdivision of the genus Lithophane into the two subgenera Lithophane and Prolitha, L. furcifera is placed in the subgenus Lithophane. This sub-division is based primarily on preliminary and differences in the morphology of the beads.