Oligia cf. latruncula

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

  • Subfamily: Xyleninae, Apameini
  • Wingspan: 22-27 mm
  • Flight period: May - Aug
  • Spread: Common
  • Host plants: Poaceae

Information

The Oligia latruncula also called Tawny Marbled Minor is a moth of the Noctuidae family, subfamily Xyleninae, with wingspan of 22-27 mm.
It is present throughout Europe with the exception of Iceland and northern European Russia. *
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

The front wings of the Oligia latruncula are remarkably dark, with a blackish and coppery chestnut basal area, while the subterminal band is whitish. Melanism is very common in this species. The various species of Oligia are notoriously difficult to separate from each other, and it is preferable to examine the structure of the genitals to be sure of the species.
However, this species differs from the others similar species, like to Oligia strigilis , by not often showing a brown or bronze color and is also usually the smallest.

The hind wings have a dark gray color with intense more intense brown dusting until they become uniform towards the edge, which presents a thin light subterminal line.
Head, thorax and abdomen are in the bottom of the front wings with a moderate hair, the abdomen is slightly lighter.

The Oligia latruncula has one generation per year in the period between May and September. ***
It loves soils with moist soils and is more common in the Mediterranean area. ***
It overwinters as a larva and pupates in a cocoon among the roots of nourishing plants.

The larva is ocher in color with a double reddish dorsal belt and a narrower side of the same color, the hairs are sparse. The head and the prothoracic shield are dark ocher / amber. **
The chrysalis is yellow / ocher with brown shades on the abdominal segments and near the cremaster. **

The larva feeds internally on the **** stems of various Poaceae including Calamagrostis and Dactylis.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Roland Robineau, Guide de papillons nocturne de France, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2011 p. 138
**** Savela, Markku. "Oligia latruncula (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms.

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