Shark (moth)
Shadow Monk ( Cucullia umbratica )
The Shadow Monk ( Cucullia umbratica ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
The Shadow monk reaches a wingspan of about 42 to 52 millimeters. The front wings are ash-gray, narrow and long and run in to apex pointed. The outer edge of the forewing is nearly straight. In midfield, one finds a more or less distinct ocher wiping, distinguishes the shadow monk of other Cucullia species. In Saumfeld are very thin black, whitish -edged strokes and under the extinct kidney blemish is a short, black bow stroke to see. The hem line is colored black and resolved in line spots. The hind wings of the males have a whitish ground color with dark veins, while the hind wings of females are lightened more or less brownish and at the base.
The caterpillars are distinguished by a black and brown marbled from cryptic, which distinguishes them from other Cucullia species. The tips of the legs and abdomen of Nachschiebers (last pair of legs ) are whitish, the base and the legs are black.
Similar Species
- Chamomile monk ( Cucullia chamomillae ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775)
- Cos monk ( Cucullia lactucae ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775)
- Tansy Monk ( Cucullia tanaceti ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775)
- Herbal Monk ( Cucullia lucifuga ) ( Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775)
- Cucullia fraterna ( Butler, 1878)
- Cucullia syrtana ( Mabille, 1888). North Africa, Tenerife, Fuerteventura
- Bellflower monk ( Cucullia campanulae ) ( Freyer, 1831)
- Dark gray Gold Aster monk ( Cucullia xeranthemi ) ( Boisduval, 1840)
Geographical distribution and habitat
You can find the shadow of a monk in the whole of Europe with the exception of the southern Mediterranean, where the species is either absent or only found in the mountains ( southern Spain, southern Italy, Greece). In the north, the range extends up to the Orkney Islands and in the middle Fennoscandia. Outside of Europe, the shadow monk from Asia Minor and the Caucasus region is common to Eastern Siberia, Turkestan and Mongolia. Since 1998, the species is also near Havre -aux- Maisons, demonstrated Magdalen Islands (Québec, Canada), where she is believed to have been introduced.
He is a frequent and far- widening moth. He settled mainly open land habitats such as heaths, Badlands, meadows, forest edges, gardens, parks.
Way of life
The Shadow Monk is a generation in years, flying the moth from mid-May to mid-August. The crepuscular and nocturnal moths are attracted by artificial light sources. The moths are found during the day resting on fence posts, telegraph poles, and other weathered wood surfaces, where they are well camouflaged because of their coloring. They fly at dusk and in the evening various flowers on, among other things,
- Catchflies ( Lychnis spp.)
- Leinkräutern ( Silene sp. )
- Honeysuckle ( Lonicera spp.)
- Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)
- Red Valerian ( Centranthus ruber)
- Thistles
- Butterfly Bush ( Buddleja davidii )
- Fragrant Honeysuckle ( Lonicera caprifolium )
- Pentecost (Dianthus gratianopolitanus )
- Bladder campion ( Silene vulgaris)
- Turk's cap lily ( Lilium martagon )
The caterpillars can be found from late June to September. A second generation in climatically favorable areas is discussed.
The caterpillars are nocturnal and hide during the day under the leaves near the ground. They eat the following food plants:
- Geese thistles ( Sonchus spp.)
- Hawkweed ( Hieracium spp.)
- Chicory (Cichorium spp.)
- Hypochaeris ( Hypochocris spec.)
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum ) ( Taraxacum sp. )
- Dandelion ( leontodon ) ( leontodon spec.)
They pupate in the soil in the fall, where the dolls are often one to two years.