Abrostola asclepiadis explained

Abrostola asclepiadis is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in South and Central Europe as far north as Finland and Sweden, Asia Minor and the Caucasus.[1]

Technical description and variation

A. asclepiadis Schiff. Scarcely distinguishable in the imago state from triplasia L., but differing altogether in the larva; this is bluish white, tinged with green on the thoracic segments, dotted with black; the dorsal tubercles large; lateral stripe broadly yellow; on each segment above it a large black dot, beneath it two large black dots and several smaller ones; head greenish yellow, with black dots: in the ab. jagowi Bartel from the Engadine, the basal area is not tinged with pink and is without dark markings.[2] The wingspan is 30–40 mm.

Biology

Adults are on wing from June to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Vincetoxicum hirundinaria, which contains toxic alkaloids and is unpalatable to most generalist herbivores.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Barry Goater, Lázló Ronkay, Michael Fibiger: Catocalinae & Plusiinae. In: Martin Honey, Michael Fibiger : Noctuidae Europaeae. Band 10. Entomological Press, Sorø 2003,
  2. [William Warren (entomologist)|Warren. W.]