A Selection of Frequent Noctuidae Moths from the Western Alps. All
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Crypsedra gemmea (Treitschke, 1825) A selection of frequent Noctuidae moths from the Western Alps. All these species are found Frequently attracted to light, this attractive above 2000 metres altitude, some locally, species prefers the damper areas of Alpine some generally. Taken over the last few years. habitats where the larvae feed usually on Molinia. Randomly, it sports the unnecessary English name of the Cameo. Familia NOCTUIDAE Latreille, 1809 CARADRININI Subfamilia PLUSIINAE Athetis ( Hydrillula)pallustris (Hübner, [1808]) Boisduval, [1828] A species we associate in England with sea level Euchalcia bellieri (Kirby, 1900) habitats on the East Coast, but in the Alps, it reaches these altitudes. A great surprise the first A highly local species, endemic to the South time I saw it. Western Alps. Larvae on Aconitum anthora ORTHOSIINI Panchrysia v-argenteum (Esper, [1798]) Perigrapha i-cinctum Found across the Alpine Arc with larvae ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) principally on Thalictrum foetidum ssp. gepida Hreblay, 1996 Subfamilia ONCOCNEMIDINAE Flying in April and May when snow is still on the Forbes & Franclemont, 1954 ground at these altitudes, this is a spectacular moth. This is the slightly lighter Alpine form. Calliergis ramosa (Esper, [1786]) XYLENINI A species associated with Lonicera which strays to these altitudes Antitype suda (Geyer, [1832]) ssp. limpida (Dannehl, 1929) Subfamilia NOCTUINAE Latreille, 1809 Closely related to our well known A. chi (Linnaeus, 1758) ACTINOTIINI This subspecies is from the Southern French Alps, the nominotypical form is from Switzerland. Actionotia radiosa (Esper, [1804]) Mniotype adusta (Esper, [1790]) A congener of A. polyodon (Clerck, 1759) which migrates to the British Isles. This bivoltine species This species, common in the British Isles, has an flies in alpine meadows in the day. These were average darker habitus in the Alps and is also netted, with difficulty, over the foodplant, often larger. Hypericum. HADENINI APAMEINI Polia bombycina (Hafnagel, 1766) Apamea zeta (Treitschke, 1825) Well known from lowland habitats in the South of Locally common in the Alps, preferring drier England, this moth is very frequent above 2000 grassland habitats. metres in the Alps. They appear darker and larger than my English series, perhaps f. unicolor Tutt, Apamea rubrirena (Treitschke, 1825) 1892. This species can also be found at lower altitudes and has a wider distribution, but has been typical of high alpine areas I have visited. Hadena caesia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Chersotis larixia (Guenée, 1852) These from Switzerland conform closely to those This montane genus is not represented in the from the Austrian type locality and are very British Isles. A species typical of Hautes-Alpes is distinct from our ssp. mananii (Gregson, 1866) in shown. A beautiful, but local species. its many forms. As well as visiting light they fly in the afternoon and visit flowers, in particular I have Standfussiana lucernea (Linnaeus, 1758) seen it on Arnica montana. ssp. arguta (Corti & Draudt, 1933) Hadena clara (Staudinger, 1901) This montane subspecies is very much larger and ssp. dujardini Boursin, 1959 more highly marked than any of the British forms. A species which is easily confused with H. caesia Xestia alpicola (Zetterstedt, [1839]) which can be surmised from the late date of its ssp. ryffelensis (Oberthür, 1904) description, where it was named from Turkey. There are numerous subspecies. Many believe this to be less spectacular than our well-known ssp. alpina (Humphreys & Westwood, NOCTUINI 1843) but I am quite a fan of these lighter Alpine forms. Dichagyris (Albocosta) musiva (Hübner, [1803]) Like Ochropleura plecta on steroids. A local and spectacular insect of high Alpine meadows. Dichagyris (Dichagyris) candelisequa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) A frequent visitor to light in Alpine meadows. Euxoa decora ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) ssp. simulatrix (Hübner, [1824]) The Alpine subspecies of this spectacular moth is typically darker than those from Austria, and is a common visitor at light. Euxoa culminicola (Staudinger, 1870) I have encountered this local species on the Col du Galibier at circa 2600 metres. Agrotis fatidica (Hübner, [1824]) & Agrotis mayrorum Ronkay & Huemer, 2018 See Ronkay & Huemer, 2018, Nota Lepi 41:145- 179 in which A. fatidica has been reviewed and two new species named, neither of which can be recognized from their habitus. Based only on geographical distribution outlined in that paper I show possible examples of two species, fatidica from Switzerland and mayrorum from France. Tony Pickles [email protected] 07773771279 Agrotis simplonia (Geyer, [1832]) 2A Park Avenue, Lymington, Hants, SO41 9GX Another beautiful and common species at this Shielding has meant I have not left the garden elevation with a passing resemblance to E. this season, but hopefully there is something of decora above. interest here. .