Satellite (moth)
Satellite Wintereule ( Eupsilia transversa )
The satellite - Wintereule ( Eupsilia transversa ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). The species overwinters as moths and therefore is one of the so-called "Winter Owl ".
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
The moth has a wingspan of 40-48 mm. The ground color varies from pale red to dark grayish brown and dark brown. The transverse lines are usually well trained and usually darker than the ground color. Basal cross line and inner transverse line are almost straight and only slightly wavy in itself. The outer transverse line is curved and serrated. The middle shade is diffuse, not clearly delimited, with median indentation and darker than the ground color. The wavy line is usually less pronounced than the other transverse lines formed. It ends before the leading edge in a limited diffuse, gray spot. The ring stain is small and only faintly discernible from the ground color; in some specimens it is not seen in other copies sits a small black dot in the center. The kidneys flaw, however, is very characteristic; relatively large, rounded, with a central, approximately triangular white or yellow spot and two small spots at or below the two outer curves of the spot, also called satellite spots ( cf. German species name ). The hind wings are uniformly gray-brown. Here, the transverse lines and the Diskalfleck are barely visible.
The apex is relatively sharp, serrated outer edge. The hem line is usually drawn fine and often quite dark; but it may be almost extinguished. Head and thorax are usually held in the base color, less often slightly darker.
Egg
The egg is flattened hemispherical, the outside with numerous, somewhat irregular longitudinal lines. It is slightly depressed above, raised the Mikropylregion something. Characterized the latter is surrounded by a shallow groove. It is pale yellow to gray- brown and turns darker before hatching.
Caterpillar
The caterpillar is dark brown to black-brown, almost black, often with a purple tint. The back line and the side ridge lines are very fine and bright. The lateral line is dissolved on the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 11th segment in white patches. The head is reddish brown, the neck shield dyed black with two yellow longitudinal lines. The spiracles are black edged.
Doll
The squat doll is reddish brown with a short, conical cremaster. This is manned by two long, slightly curved downward bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The range of the species extends from Western Europe to East Asia (Japan). In the south, the distribution limit runs from the north of Spain, Sardinia, central Italy, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Asia Minor and the Caucasus to Central Asia. In the north, the geographical occurrence to Scotland and the Orkney Islands extends. Individual animals were reported even from Iceland. In Fennoscandia, the distribution of the species almost to the Arctic Circle sufficient, as in northern Russia. The species is very cold tolerant and lives in a variety of habitats, from forests to open grasslands, from the lowlands to above the tree line. From temperate regions to the sub-arctic tundra. The nature rises in the Alps at up to 1800 m.
Phenology and life
The species forms from one generation per year. The moths emerge in September, some animals had already done in August. The autumnal main flight season extends from September to November. Then the butterfly insert a winter break, but which may be interrupted on mild winter days. The moths are dependent on the intake of food. They were in the autumn to late flowering plants observed (eg butterfly bush ( Buddleja davidii ) ), but also on tree sap sucking. Also decomposing fruit and excretions of aphids serve as food. In the spring of the kittens of different pastures are visited; also tree blossoms they were observed. They like to come to the bait. They are nocturnal and come out on artificial light sources.
Eggs are laid individually. The caterpillars can be found in May and June. They are extremely polyphagous and feed on leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs. The young caterpillars live together in spun leaves. They are nocturnal and hide during the day. Demonstrated are: aspen (Populus tremula ), goat willow (Salix caprea ), common hazel (Corylus avellana ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus robur), field elm (Ulmus minor), cultivated apple (Malus domestica), hawthorn ( Crataegus sp.), blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus agg. ), Rubus sp., plum (Prunus domestica), wild cherry (Prunus avium), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), field maple (Acer campestre ), Common spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus ) large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), buckthorn ( Frangula alnus ) and lilac (Syringa vulgaris). The caterpillars are considered murder caterpillars, that is, that they eat other caterpillars. Also aphids and insect larvae are eaten. The pupate in a cocoon in the earth.
System
The species was described in 1766 by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel as Phalaena transversa first time scientifically. Only a year later, Carl Linnaeus described again under the name Phalaena satellitia, the name is therefore a junior synonym of Eupsilia transversa ( Hufnagel, 1766 ). It is the type species of the genus Eupsilia Hübner, 1821.
Endangering
The species is regarded in Germany as not at risk.