Noctuidae : Xyleninae
Rufous Minor agg
OLIGIA versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792)
Rufous Minor agg
OLIGIA versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 23-28mm
Worldwide Distribution: Southern and Central Europe (less Greece,Portugal,Norway and Mediterranean Islands): Turkey : Caucasus
UK Distribution: England,Wales,Southern Scotland - thinly distributed : Ireland - very local : Isle of Man - status uncertain : Channel Isles - widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland : Heathland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates among plant roots in flimsy cocoon
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Although this moth is variable, specimens with strongly marked pale brown stigmata and orbicular spot against a dark median area are likely to be Rufous Minor.
The antemedial and postmedial cross lines are highlighted in white the former being gently crved whereas the other cross line is more wavy.
The moth has a greyish white terminal band and one or two reddish tufts on the thorax.
The melanic forms of these "Minor" moths can only be separated by genitalia examination.
Although the moth shown below was not confirmed by this method and as such is pefixed "agg." it clearly shows all the identification criteria to be this moth.
The moth is attracted to light and to sugar.
Worldwide Distribution: Southern and Central Europe (less Greece,Portugal,Norway and Mediterranean Islands): Turkey : Caucasus
UK Distribution: England,Wales,Southern Scotland - thinly distributed : Ireland - very local : Isle of Man - status uncertain : Channel Isles - widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Noctua) versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792)
- Phalaena strigilis (Linnaeus,1758)
- Europe - Locality unknown
Habitat: Woodland : Heathland
Similar Species -
- Tawny Marbled Minor - Oligia latruncula ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
- Marbled Minor - Oligia strigilis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pupa: Pupates among plant roots in flimsy cocoon
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Although this moth is variable, specimens with strongly marked pale brown stigmata and orbicular spot against a dark median area are likely to be Rufous Minor.
The antemedial and postmedial cross lines are highlighted in white the former being gently crved whereas the other cross line is more wavy.
The moth has a greyish white terminal band and one or two reddish tufts on the thorax.
The melanic forms of these "Minor" moths can only be separated by genitalia examination.
Although the moth shown below was not confirmed by this method and as such is pefixed "agg." it clearly shows all the identification criteria to be this moth.
The moth is attracted to light and to sugar.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Juncaceae - Reed Family
- Luzula luzuloides - White Wood-rush
- Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
- Brachypodium sylvaticum - False Brome
- Poa pratensis - Smooth Meadow-grass
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Poaceae - Gramineae - Carex - Sedge
- Poaceae - Gramineae - Carex - Sedge
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - OLIGIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Xyleninae Apameini OLIGIA Hübner [1821] Oligia versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792) - Phalaena strigilis (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA (Noctua) versicolor (Borkhausen, 1792) = Oligia versicolor vojnitsi Kovács, 1983 = Oligia nerminae Kocak, 1983 - Naturgeschichte der europäischen Schmetterlinge ... v. 4. Borkhausen, Moritz Balthasar, 1760-1806. : Title Page : p.188 - n.83 - Europe - Locality unknown |