Yellow-brown autumn owl

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Yellow-brown autumn owl
Agrochola macilenta1.jpg

Yellow-brown autumn owl ( Agrochola macilenta )

Systematics
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Xyleninae
Tribe : Xylenini
Sub tribus : Xylenina
Genre : Agrochola
Type : Yellow-brown autumn owl
Scientific name
Agrochola macilenta
( Huebner , 1809)
Yellow-brown autumn owl in resting position

The yellow-brown autumn owl ( Agrochola macilenta ), also called beech mixed forest autumn owl and yellow-brown oak autumn owl, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

The moths have a wingspan of 29 to 40 mm. The basic color of the head, thorax and forewings varies from pale to almost orange-brown. The drawing elements also vary greatly in intensity; they are usually poorly developed, but can sometimes also be very clearly visible. The inner and outer transverse lines are strongly jagged, mostly simply drawn and often interrupted. In some specimens only the outwardly directed tips of the prongs are drawn dark. The central band is almost always pale, diffuse and mostly red-brown. The wavy line is red-brown. Ring flaws and kidney defects are relatively large, the kidney defects quite wide. Both flaws have a red-brown border, the border can also be interrupted on some copies. The lower third of the kidney defects is dark brown in color with a few white-gray scales interspersed .

The hind wings are light-colored with a strong brown-gray over-dusting, the inner area is somewhat lighter. The discal patch is relatively large, but diffuse.

The hemispherical egg is initially colored yellow and turns brownish-gray before hatching. The surface is covered with weak, but strongly wavy longitudinal ribs.

The caterpillar is relatively compact, reddish in color with a small, reddish-brown head. The back and side back lines are brightly colored. The back line widens from around the 3rd or 4th segment, in each case in the rear third of the segment to a spot.

The doll has an indistinct cremaster . Two hook bristles protrude over the other smaller bristles.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in the European part of the Mediterranean area and in central to northern Europe. But it is absent in central and southern Spain as well as on most of the larger Mediterranean islands with the exception of Sicily. In the north the distribution area extends to southern Scandinavia (Denmark, southern Norway, southern Sweden and southern Finland). In the east, the northern limit of distribution extends across central Russia to the Ural Mountains. In the south, the species occurs across Asia Minor and Cyprus to the Caucasus region.

The species occurs in wooded to open, warm, dry to moderately moist biotopes in the flat and hilly areas. In the Alps, the species rises up to 1000 m above sea level.

Way of life

The yellow-brown autumn owl forms one generation per year, the moths of which fly from late August to early December. In rare cases the moths overwinter. Usually the egg hibernates.

The caterpillars initially feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees and shrubs, the adult caterpillars more on herbaceous plants . Be on larval food plants include: hornbeam ( Carpinus ), hawthorn ( Crataegus ), Book ( Fagus ), poplars ( Populus ), Prunus , elm ( Ulmus ), pastures ( Salix ) and oak ( Quercus ) and on herbaceous plants heather ( Calluna ) Hawkweeds ( Hieracium ) and plantain ( Plantago ).

Danger

The species is considered not endangered in Germany.

Systematics

Currently, the yellow-brown autumn owl is divided into two subspecies. The nominate subspecies

  • Agrochola macilenta macilenta , in by far the largest part of the distribution area and
  • Agrochola macilenta rubrescens Wiltshire , 1939 restricted to Cyprus.

swell

literature

  • Günter Ebert (Hrsg.): The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 6, Nachtfalter IV. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1997 (Eulen (Noctuidae) 2nd part), ISBN 3-8001-3482-9
  • Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela, Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II. - Noctuidae Europaeae, Volume 5. , Sorø, 2001, ISBN 8-789-43006-9 Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela & Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II . In: Michael Fibiger, Martin Honey (Ed.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 5 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9 (English).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Red Lists
  2. ↑ Ronkay et al. (2001: p. 96/7)
  3. ↑ a b c d 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 : Yellow-brown Autumn Owl  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files