Rhyacia helvetina

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Rhyacia helvetina
Rhyacia helvetina

Rhyacia helvetina

Systematics
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Noctuinae
Tribe : Noctuini
Sub tribus : Noctuina
Genre : Rhyacia
Type : Rhyacia helvetina
Scientific name
Rhyacia helvetina
( Boisduval , 1833)

Rhyacia helvetina is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe owl butterfly family (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 40 to 47 millimeters. The basic color of the upper side of the forewing, which is poor in drawing, varies from mouse-gray to yellow-gray and olive-gray to reddish gray. Ring and kidney defects are usually very indistinct, sometimes filled with light gray. Cross lines are not visible. The top of the hind wings is gray in color.

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The egg has a hemispherical shape, is flattened at the poles and colored yellow. It is covered with many fine longitudinal ribs.

Fully grown caterpillars are colored gray-blue to blue-black with almost no drawing. Only the white stigmas are striking . The head is nut brown, the legs light brown.

The slender doll is shiny red-brown. The cremaster is provided with two long thorns.

Similar species

The species also have a predominantly gray basic color

all differ in that the transverse lines stand out more or less clearly on the upper side of the forewing.

distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the high altitudes of the Alps and Pyrenees , the Apennines and on the Balkan Peninsula . Outside Europe, it was found in northwest Africa and east to west of Central Asia. The main habitat are open, mountainous grasslands.

Subspecies

In addition to the nominate form Rhyacia helvetina helvetina , which occurs in the Alps , seven other subspecies are known:

  • Rhyacia helvetina plumbina ( Wagner , 1913), Kyrgyzstan
  • Rhyacia helvetina pyrenaica ( Boursin , 1928), Pyrenees
  • Rhyacia helvetina lhassen ( Le Cerf , 1932), Morocco
  • Rhyacia helvetina deliciosa Brandt , 1938, Iran
  • Rhyacia helvetina banghaasi Boursin , 1940, Turkey
  • Rhyacia helvetina rjabovi Boursin , 1940, Dagestan
  • Rhyacia helvetina schepleri Fibiger , 1993, Greece

Way of life

Rhyacia helvetina forms one generation per year, the moths of which fly in July and August. They are nocturnal and visit artificial light sources as well as bait . The caterpillars feed on various low plants. They are nocturnal and hide in the grass or under stones during the day. The caterpillars overwinter.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Michael Fibiger: Noctuidae Europaeae. Volume 2 Noctuinae II. 230 p., Entomological Press, Sorø 1993 ISBN 87-89430-02-6 , pp 35-37
  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 , pp. 28-29.

literature

Web links

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