Oncocera semirubella
Oncocera semirubella
Oncocera semirubella is a striking red and yellow colored small butterfly of the family of the European corn borer ( Pyralidae ).
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 17-29 millimeters. Head and chest are speckled yellow or yellow- red. The outer and front area of the forewing is red, the rear yolk yellow. In the form f sangui ella Hübner also the leading edge is colored yellow. The hind wings are cognac colored, with dark and white fringe hemline. It is a different shape known, is replaced in the red by Brown. The antennae are about half as long as the forewing.
The caterpillar is green and has dark longitudinal lines. Her head is colored black.
Occurrence and habitat
The species is found throughout most of southern and central Europe. In the north, the range extends to the south of England, Denmark and southern Sweden. In the east it stretches across Turkey, Iraq and Iran to China. Oncocera semirubella prefers sunny, dry places that are overgrown with grasses and herbs. In Iraq, the moths are found in oases and in the steppe.
Phenology and life
The moths fly from May to September .. They rest during the day at the plant, but are easy to track down. They fly at dusk, come on artificial light sources and can also be baited. The caterpillars can be found in Central Europe from August to June of the following year; the caterpillars also hibernate. They live in tubular passages of a braided weave with loose leaf. The food plants of the oligophagen type alfalfa (Medicago sativa ), Common Fenugreek ( Lotus corniculatus ), clovers (Trifolium ) and Hauhecheln ( ononis ). They feed preferably on the flowers, rarely on the leaves of plants. Pupation takes place in a silk cocoon in burrow or in other places, mostly on the food plant.
Harmful effect
In alfalfa and clover fields, the type occurring as a pest, just to Leguminosae ( Fabaceae ).
System
The species was described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli as Phalaena semirubella first time. A little later named Carl Linnaeus this form Phalaena tinea Carnella; the name is therefore a junior synonym. Jacob Hübner described in 1796 a form with pale yellow forewing edge as tinea sangui ella, which later turned out as conspecific. The name is therefore a junior synonym of Oncoceras semirubella. Phalaena tinea Carnella Linnaeus, 1767 ( = Phalaena semirubella Scopoli, 1763) is the type species of the genus Oncocera Stephens, in 1829.