Apamea zeta

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Apamea zeta
Apamea zeta.jpg

Apamea zeta

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Xyleninae
Genre : Apamea
Type : Apamea zeta
Scientific name
Apamea zeta
( Treitschke , 1825)

Apamea zeta , sometimes referred to as Treitschke's alpine grass tufted owl , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 41 to 50 millimeters. The species is extremely variable in terms of color. The basic color of the forewings varies from milky white to yellow-green and gray-green to olive-brown. Primarily climatic or geological influences are responsible for the color design. Kidney and ring flaws are almost always indistinct and blurry, as are the horizontal and wavy lines. Occasionally, the midfield is slightly darkened. The hind wings are a single color, light gray-brown.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are yellow-white in color and have dark, hairy point warts. The head and pronotum are colored red-brown.

Similar species

A very similar species that is often confused with the darker forms of Apamea zeta is Apamea maillardi . This is usually a little darker in color and often shows a reddish-brown basic color as well as kidney defects that are slightly whitish on the outside. Also Apamea michielii can in some instances a certain resemblance to zeta seen, but mostly colored lighter. A safe separation of the species can usually only be done on the basis of genital morphological characteristics.

distribution and habitat

The distribution of the species extends through mountainous areas of Central and Southern Europe, such as the Pyrenees , the Alps , the Apennines as well as the Dinaric Mountains and the Balkan Mountains . It is absent in the Caucasus and the Urals . In the Alps it rises to around 3000 meters. Apamea zeta is mainly found in rocky regions.

Way of life

The moths are nocturnal, like to visit artificial light sources and fly in one generation from June to August, sometimes even in September. The caterpillars mainly live from August, overwinter and pupate in May or June of the following year. They feed on the stalks of various grasses . Pupation takes place under stones.

Danger

Apamea zeta in Germany only in Bavaria found in varying frequency and is on the red list of endangered species out on the early warning list.

Systematics

The genus Apamea was described by Zilli et al. 2005 split into the genera Apamea , Abromias and Lateroligia . Fauna Europaea, however, summarizes the genera Apamea and Abromias again.

The following synonyms are known from the literature:

  • Polia clandestina Boisduval, 1829
  • Noctua pernix Geyer, [1828–1832]
  • Hadena zeta var.curoi Calberla, 1888
  • Crymodes zeta rofana Wolfsberger, 1952
  • Apamea zeta cyanochlora Varga, 1976
  • Apamea zeta pseudopernix Varga, 1977
  • Apamea zeta sandorkovacsi Peregovits & Varga, 1984
  • Apamea zeta carpatodistincta Rakosy, Stangelmaier & Wieser, 1996

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Alberto Zilli, László Ronkay, Michael Fibiger: Apameini . In: WG Tremewan (Ed.): Noctuidae Europaeae . 1st edition. tape 8 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2005, ISBN 87-89430-09-3 (English).
  2. ^ A b 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. ↑ Apamea zeta (Treitschke 1825). Fauna Europaea, Version 2.1, December 22, 2009, accessed January 12, 2010 .

literature

  • Alberto Zilli, László Ronkay, Michael Fibiger: Apameini . In: WG Tremewan (Ed.): Noctuidae Europaeae . 1st edition. tape 8 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2005, ISBN 87-89430-09-3 (English).
  • Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .

Web links

Commons : Apamea zeta  - album with pictures, videos and audio files