Agrotis simplonia

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Agrotis simplonia
Agrotis simplonia.jpg

Agrotis simplonia

Systematics
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Noctuinae
Tribe : Agrotini
Sub tribus : Agrotina
Genre : Agrotis
Type : Agrotis simplonia
Scientific name
Agrotis simplonia
( Geyer , 1832)

Agrotis simplonia is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe owl butterfly family (Noctuidae).

features

The wingspan of the moth is 32 to 40 millimeters. The forewings vary in different shades of gray from ash gray to blue gray. Basal, inner and outer transverse lines are dark and jagged, ring and cone flaws are not visible. The kidney defects are indistinct and somewhat darkened. There is often a darker field at the wing tip. Newly hatched butterflies have a light coating of golden-yellow scales , which is lost after a short flight. The hind wings are gray-brown without drawing.

The caterpillar is brown-gray or olive-green in color, has an indistinct, light topline, the same side ridge lines and a wide, slightly wavy side stripe.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the high altitudes of the Alps , Pyrenees , Cantabrian Mountains and the Apennines at altitudes between 1200 and 3000 meters. It was not found outside of Europe. She prefers open, rocky terrain. The Spanish population was described as the coralita Hospital, 1948.

Way of life

The species forms one generation per year, whose moths fly between May and September, occasionally in October, depending on the altitude. The moths are nocturnal and like to come from artificial light sources . During the day they often sit on stones and rocks, where they can hardly be seen due to their gray color and are therefore well protected from predators. In late summer, the caterpillars feed on various grasses. The adult caterpillars overwinter and pupate in spring.

Danger

In Germany, the species occurs only in the Bavarian Alps , where it is not uncommon in certain areas and is therefore not classified as endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species . Reports of the location from the northern foothills of the Alps are likely to be incorrect determinations or specimens that were abducted.

Systematics

Fibiger (1990) does not rule out any subspecies . Light gray specimens from the Apennines, formerly known as var. Calcigena Sohn-Rethel , 1929, are synonymous with the species and interpreted as marginal populations. Also the Agrotis coralita Hospital, which used to be regarded as an independent species, was merged with Agrotis simplobia by Fibiger in 1948 .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Fibiger (1990: p. 78)
  2. ↑ Walter Forster, Theodor A. Wohlfahrt: The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  3. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9
  4. ↑ Günter Ebert (Ed.): The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0

literature

Web links

Commons : Agrotis simplonia  - collection of images, videos and audio files