Euchalcia bellieri explained

Euchalcia bellieri is a moth of the family Noctuidae.

Etymology

Latin species name bellieri honors the French entomologist Jean-Baptiste Eugène Bellier de la Chavignerie (1819-1888).[1]

Description

Euchalcia bellieri has a wingspan of about 33-.[1] [2] This rare species closely resemble Euchalcia variabilis, but it is quite smaller. The upperside of the forewings shows a well marked oblique inner line with a slight rosy border. The central area is dark brown, while the hind margin is rosy. The basal dark line is angulated. The orbicular stigma is double, with a yellow ring. Larvae are green with a white lateral line.

Caterpillars feed on Delphinium dubium, maybe also on Aconitum species.[3] They are fully grown at the end of June, while adults fly in July.[4]

Distribution

This species is endemic to France (Hautes-Alpes, Basses-Alpes, Alpes Maritimes) and to a northern Italian Region (Piedmont).[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Euchalcia_Bellieri Lepiforum.de
  2. http://www.noctuidae.de/page/art/bellieri.html Noctuidae.de
  3. Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
  4. W. F. Kirby The butterflies and moths of Europe I-LXXII, 1-432. London (Cassell and Company)
  5. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/plusiinae/euchalcia/index.html Funet
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20141013224031/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=449576 Fauna Europaea