Tawny Marbled Minor

Dark Halmeulchen ( Oligia latruncula )

The Dark Halmeulchen ( Oligia latruncula ), also known as mountain heath - Graseulchen, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).

• 5.1 Notes and references
• 5.2 Literature

Features

Butterfly

With a wingspan of 21-28 millimeters moths the way one of the smaller cutworm species. The forewing color varies greatly. There are gray-brown colored specimens as well before as animals with dark brown to almost monochrome blackish tint. The blemish stand out from the underground only vaguely from. The midfield shimmers sometimes reddish brown. The external cross- line is only slightly and smoothly curved inwardly. The hind wings are gray-brown without markings.

Similar Species

• The very similar dark forms of Colorful Halmeulchens ( Oligia versicolor), the harrow Halmeulchens ( Oligia strigilis ) and of Oligia dubia appear on average in larger specimens.
• The bog meadows Halmeulchen ( Oligia fasciuncula ) shows predominantly reddish colorations.

For avoidance of doubt in determining a genitalmorphologische examination should be performed.

Geographical distribution and occurrence

The Dark Halmeulchen is distributed from northern Scotland to the north and south and Mittelfennoskandinavien through Europe to central Spain, Sicily and Greece. In the East, the spread to the Middle East last. In the Alps there is still to be found at an altitude of 2000 meters. It prefers dry inhabited regions. These include, for example, woodlands, heaths, grasslands, gardens and parks.

Way of life

The crepuscular and nocturnal moths fly during the months of May to August in one generation and visit artificial light sources as well as bait. The caterpillars can be found from September and after overwintering in the following year to May. They feed on sweet grass ( Poaceae ) and orchard grass species ( Dactylis ). The species overwinters as a caterpillar.

Endangering

In Germany the Dark Halmeulchen is common area as not rare and is therefore managed on the Red List of Threatened Species as not at risk.

Swell