Larch gold owl

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Larch gold owl
Syngrapha ain.jpg

Larch gold owl ( Syngrapha ain )

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Plusiinae
Genre : Syngrapha
Type : Larch gold owl
Scientific name
Syngrapha ain
( Hochenwarth , 1785)

The larch gold owl ( Syngrapha ain ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the owl butterfly family (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The larch gold owl is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 34 to 40 millimeters. The forewings are colored in different shades of gray and brown, have some distinctive lines and - as in many species of the subfamily Plusiinae - have a characteristic drawing on the forewings, for example in the form of the gamma from the Greek alphabet, which is colored silver-white. As a result, the species is similar to the gamma owl ( Autographa gamma ) and the blueberry-silver owl ( Syngrapha interrogationis ). In rest position, d. H. When the wings are folded like a roof, it is difficult to distinguish between the moths. A clear distinguishing feature, however, are the yellow rear wings with a brownish outer edge in the larch gold owl. Three other similar species that also have yellow hind wings and comparable markings are Hochenwarth's gold owl ( Syngrapha hochenwarthi ), Syngrapha devergens and the bog gold owl ( Syngrapha microgamma ). However, these species are smaller (22 to 30 millimeters wingspan) and can therefore be easily distinguished from the larch gold owl. There is a dense tuft of hair on the head of the butterfly. The body is furry and has other smaller tufts of hair. The trunk is well developed.

egg

The egg is bluntly conical and yellowish white in color.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are green in color. They have a double back line and a side back line, all of which are yellowish white in color. They also have wide, white-yellow side stripes that are bordered in dark green at the top. The yellowish stigmas are bordered dark.

Doll

The doll is dark brown. The cremaster is wide, wrinkled and has two shorter and two medium, longer hook bristles on the sides.

Similar species

Geographical distribution and habitat

In Europe , the larch gold owl is preferred in mountainous areas, for example in the Tatra Mountains , the Giant Mountains and the Alps , where it can be found up to an altitude of 2200 meters. Light forests with larch stands are their main occurrence area.

Way of life

The larch gold owl flies both during the day and at night. The females lay the eggs on larches ( Larix ), from which the caterpillars hatch in autumn and feed on the needle-shaped leaves of the larches. They overwinter and pupate mostly in May of the following year in a brownish web. The moths fly in July and August.

Danger

In Germany, the species occurs in Bavaria and is protected there according to Category 3 (endangered).

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ 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 .

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