Polia hepatica
Birch Blättereule ( Polia hepatica)
The Birch Blättereule ( Polia hepatica), also referred to as blueberry Garteneule or berry bush - Blättereule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the butterfly is 39 to 47 millimeters. Specific type is the silver-gray to bluish -gray color of the forewings. Pin, kidney and ring blemish stand out clearly and are each bordered dark brown. The inner transverse line is formed double. The field between kidney and ring stain is usually intensely colored brown and extends to the front edge. Intermediate shaft line and the outer edge of each distinctive brown spots are visible on the inner angle, and in the middle. The hind wings show a gray -brown color.
Caterpillar
Young caterpillars are initially reddish in color and change color with increasing development in ocher brown. On the back of a series of dark diamond spots have been identified that are intersected by the lighter back line. The side lines are blackish.
Similar Species
The species is similar gray colored forms of restharrow - Blättereule ( Polia bombycina ) and the forest bush Blättereule ( Polia nebulosa ), but which largely lack the striking brown drawing elements.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is widely distributed in the temperate climates of Europe and Asia to East Asia, but absent in the northernmost Fennoscandia and in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Greece. They also missing in Japan. Main habitat are birch bogs, blueberry forests and moist meadow valleys.
Way of life
The nocturnal moths fly from late May to early August in one generation and to visit artificial light sources as well as bait. The caterpillars live in August. They feed preferentially from the leaves of blueberry (Vaccinium ), blackberry (Rubus ) or birch species ( Betulae ), overwinter and pupate in May of the following year.
Endangering
In Germany, the Birch Blättereule is everywhere but many found locally and usually solitary. On the red list of endangered species it is guided in category V ( near threatened ).