Pseudeustrotia candidula
Triangle Grasmotteneulchen ( Pseudeustrotia candidula )
The triangle - Grasmotteneulchen ( Pseudeustrotia candidula ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 23-26 millimeters. The moths of the second and possibly third generation are slightly smaller on average. The females are slightly smaller than males on average. Their front wings are in the color white to light pink with a dark brown triangular spot on the costal margin, extending from the middle of the outer transverse line to the Saumfeld. This large triangular patch includes the kidneys with a blemish and a few small bright spots and some black lines. Another dark spot sits in the root area of the forewing in Kostal's edge also. Another, often indistinct, light brown spot is located at the inner edge of the central panel. Typical also are two wavy, dark patterned transverse lines (inner and outer cross- line). Occasionally, a faint wavy line can be seen. The hind wings are whitish or gray with a brown trace on the wing leading edge. They have a faint outer transverse line and a Diskalfleck.
The egg is hemispherical with strong, strong serrated longitudinal ribs. It's dirty orange and has reddish brown ribs.
The caterpillars are green, the segment cuts yellowish. The back line and the side ridge lines are drawn dark, on the other hand edged the side lines greenish and white. The head is greenish.
The doll is yellow-brown, the cremaster has a thin tip.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The distribution area extends sketchy from the Pyrenees, over central and south-eastern Europe and into Europe into Russia (in the north to the area of St. Petersburg). In the Atlantic coastal regions of France, Belgium and the Netherlands and the British Isles, the type is largely absent except for very small deposits. In 2009 she was first detected in a few copies in the Netherlands and Belgium. They also largely absent in the Iberian Peninsula ( with the exception of the Spanish Pyrenees ) and the Mediterranean islands. But on the Iberian Peninsula it seems to be also understood in expansion. In the north of the area it is found in Denmark and southern Fennoscandia and the Baltic States. In the east the area of distribution over Asia Minor and the median Russia dates back to the Caucasus and the Urals; from there to Iran, Central Asia, Western and Southern Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
The species is a typical inhabitant of open, warm grasslands, fields and gardens, and forest edges and clearings. It comes from the plains to the hills in front of the stage highlands. In the Alps, it rises to about 1000 meters.
Way of life
It makes one or two generations per year, with a second generation appears in Central Europe only in climatically favorable regions. The moths fly from late May to mid-July and August-September. Rarely is to appear is a third generation. The animals are mainly active during the day, but also fly at night and come occasionally to light. You suck on purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria ). The caterpillars are from August to October ( first generation) and in July (second generation) to be found. The caterpillars feed mainly at Little Sorrel ( Rumex acetosella ), snakes knotweed ( Polygonum bistorta ) and other lower plants. Fibiger and Hacker call the species of the genus winds ( Convolvus ) as the main caterpillar food plants. The pupa overwinters.
Endangering
The species is listed in Germany on the Red List and is considered high risk. In some German states, the species is classified as extinct or lost. In Thuringia, it has been demonstrated recently after more than 100 years. In Saxony -Anhalt, the species was also found again after a long break.
Systematics and Taxonomy
The species was described in 1775 by Michael Denis Johann Ignaz and Schiffermueller as Noctua candidula first time scientifically. The type locality is the area around Vienna, the types have been lost. Noctua pusilla Vieweg, 1790 is a junior synonym. The previously considered as subspecies Eustrotia candidula leechiana Bryk, 1949 by the Korean peninsula was again included in the Nominatunterart.