Xylena exsoleta
Grey Moderholzeule ( Xylena exsoleta )
The Grey Moderholzeule ( Xylena exsoleta ), even nasty rotting wood or Pale Grey Moderholzeule called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 5.1 Literature
- 5.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
With a wingspan of 55 to 70 millimeters is in the horror Moderholzeule by a relatively large cutworms. The fore wings are narrow and long. The coloration of the forewing varies from pale gray to gray- brown. Kidney blemish are highlighted by dark spots, blemishes ring are usually indistinct recognizable and thin dark- edged. From the bright wavy line, a black line moves inward, which, however, does not reach the kidney blemish. The hind wings are gray-brown without markings and have a pale brown spot near the inner edge. The proboscis of the moths is well developed. The antennae of the males are slightly serrated.
Egg, caterpillar and chrysalis
The spherical egg has a greatly flattened base, a slightly early Mikropylteil, is irregularly ribbed and initially reddish gray, violet gray colored later. The young caterpillars are green in color and show yellow longitudinal lines. Very striking are the adult, green caterpillars. They have broad, black, broken, yellow highlighted in white back side lines and also broad, reddish brown, broken, white for the yellow colored side lines. The thin -skinned doll wears each two long diverging spines at the button-shaped, slightly puckered cremaster.
Similar Species
- With the slightly smaller brown Moderholzeule ( Xylena vetusta ) emanating from the shaft line black line always reaches the kidneys blemish. The basic color emphasizes the browns stronger. Ring stain can not be identified.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of the species extends from the Canary Islands and North-West Africa through most of Europe, Middle East and Central Asia to the Pacific and Japan. In the mountains, it rises up to 3500 meters. The Grey Moderholzeule can mainly be found on warm, dry meadows and fields, on slopes, forest edges and in gardens.
Way of life
The moths fly from August, hibernate, reappear in the spring and then live up to end of May. In repose tightly squeeze the wings to the body, so that they resemble a piece of decaying wood, as noted by the German name of the species is due. They are nocturnal and fly to artificial light sources, especially like also applied bait. In the spring they often suck on willow flowers ( Salix). The caterpillars live from May to July. They are polyphagous and feed on a variety of plants, one of which is mentioned here only a selection:
- Lilies ( Lilium )
- Irises (Iris )
- Yellow Dock ( Rumex ),
- Spurge ( Euphorbia )
- Restharrow ( ononis )
- Onion (Allium cepa )
- Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea)
- Larkspur ( Delphinium )
And others. Pupation takes place in the earth.
Endangering
In Germany the species is common, but rarely regional basis and is classified on the Red List of endangered species in the category V ( near threatened ).