Pyrausta sanguinalis
Pyrausta sanguinalis
Pyrausta sanguinalis, is a butterfly of the family Crambidae.
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of about 18 to 20 millimeters (or a forewing length of 8 to 9 mm. ) The fore wings are colored yellow in color. The forewings have two purple or pink to purplish red transverse bands, which are to speak about than median transverse line and as Submarginallinie ( wavy line ) and an equally colored costal margin. However, the narrow color range of the costal margin runs only up to the median transverse fascia. The transverse bands vary in width, while the Submarginallinie can practically take over the entire Saumfeld. The median transverse line bifurcates before Kostal edge. The fork and the red-colored front edge include a bright spot. However, may be incomplete, the outer branch of the fork, and the yellow spot has a connection to the outer yellow box. The fringes are pale, gray, or dark gray.
The caterpillar is greenish gray, occasionally also stained reddish and has whitish longitudinal lines. The head is brightly colored.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is indeed widespread in Europe, but always very local and therefore usually rare to very rare. In the north, the area extends to southern Sweden and southern Norway and Finland, to the west, the species is restricted to the coastal regions of western Ireland, Northern Ireland, North Wales and the Isle of Man. In the east it stretches across Siberia to Mongolia, the Russian Far East and Japan. In the south, the range extends from the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus to northern India.
The species prefers dry, warm, grassy slopes, bushy backs and steppes. In Northern Ireland, Ireland, North Wales and the Isle of Man, the species is restricted to calcareous subsoil. You get there in the sand dunes systems, although rich flora but most scanty vegetation.
Way of life
Pyrausta sanguinalis forms in Central Europe two generations per year. The diurnal and nocturnal moths fly in May / June and July / August. They come out at night also to artificial light sources. In the north of its range (Northern Ireland) only one generation is formed in the year. The caterpillars live in a tubular weave on the ground or between the flowers of the following food plants:
- Long Haired thyme (Thymus praecox subsp. Polytrichus )
- Sand thyme (Thymus serpyllum )
- Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Sage ( Salvia )
The caterpillars of the second generation overwinter and pupate in spring in a Erdkokon.
Systematics and Taxonomy
The taxon was described in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus as Phalaena Pyralis sanguinalis first time scientifically. The type came from " Lusitania " ( = Portugal) and is kept in the collection of the Linnean Society in London.
Endangering
The current conservation status of Pyrausta sanguinalis is detected in only two German states. In Baden it is in category 1 (= threatened with extinction ) and Bavaria in Category 3 (endangered ).