Gray-brown early autumn owl

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gray-brown early autumn owl
Gray-brown early autumn owl (Ammoconia caecimacula) ♂

Gray-brown early autumn owl ( Ammoconia caecimacula ) ♂

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Xyleninae
Genre : Ammoconia
Type : Gray-brown early autumn owl
Scientific name
Ammoconia caecimacula
( Denis & Schiffermüller , 1775)

The ammoconia caecimacula ( Ammoconia caecimacula ), and Gray-brown Wollrückeneule called, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of cutworms (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

With a wingspan of 35 to 48 millimeters, the moths are among the medium-sized owl butterflies. The basic color of the forewings varies only slightly from pale ocher to gray-brown. While the inner transverse line in the middle is clearly thickened like spots and tinged red-brown or black-brown, the outer transverse line appears double and indistinct. Inwardly directed, dark shadows can often be seen on the wavy line. Kidney and ring flaws are large, filled with light gray and have a thin red-brown border. In the male specimens the hind wings are whitish, in the females gray-brown. The body is furry. The antennae of the males have short sawtooth-like eyelashes.

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The reddish-gray egg has a spherical shape with a strongly flattened base and is provided with wavy ribs.

Younger caterpillars are green in color and show a yellowish side stripe. A brown basic color predominates in the adult animals. The back, side back and side lines stand out lighter. The white stigmas are lined with black.

The doll has a dark maroon and has a stick-shaped, provided with two rich spikes, wrinkled cremaster .

Similar species

In the butterflies of Ammoconia senex , gray color elements predominate. They also lack the thickening of the inner transverse line.

distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in almost all of Europe, but is absent in southern Spain, Great Britain, Ireland and the northern half of Fennoscandinavia. It is also found in Asia Minor, North Asia and West Turkestan . The subspecies transcaucasica and sibirica live in the east . The animals are mainly to be found in dry areas, such as warm slopes, poor grasslands, vineyards, sunny embankments and sandy corridors.

Way of life

The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal and live from August to October, sometimes well into November. They like to visit artificial light sources and baits . A large number of different lower plants are named as fodder plants of the caterpillars, which live mainly from April to June, for example white forest bird ( Cephalanthera damasonium ) as well as dock ( Rumex ), catchwort - ( Silene ), gorse - ( Genista ), bedstraw - ( Galium ), Figwort - ( Scrophularia ) and species of dandelion ( Taraxacum ). The preferred food of the caterpillars is the flowers and fruits of the forage plants. Pupation takes place in a cave in the earth. The egg is hibernating.

Danger

The gray-brown early autumn owl is not uncommon in most German federal states and is listed as not endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b 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).
  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. ↑ a b Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • 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).
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .

Web links

Commons : Graubraune Frühherbsteule  - Collection of images, videos and audio files