Rufous Minor
Encyclopedia
The Rufous Minor is a species of moth
belonging to the family Noctuidae
. It is distributed throughout Europe
.
The wingspan
is 24-28 mm. This species is extremely similar to the Marbled Minor
(Oligia strigilis) and the Tawny Marbled Minor
(Oligia latruncula) and specific identification usually requires close study of the genitalia. O. versicolor has a wingspan
of 23-28 mm and often has more brightly coloured forewings than its congeners with rich reddish-brown tones and a grey subterminal band. There is also often one or more tufts of reddish hairs on the thorax
, always lacking in its congeners. Although melanism
occurs in this species it is much less frequent than in the other two species. O. versicolor flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light and sugar.
The larva
feeds internally on the stems of various grass
es (including Carex
species, Luzula luzoloides, Bracilypodium sylvaticum and Poa pratensis), pupa
ting in a cocoon among the roots. This species overwinters as a larva.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
belonging to the family Noctuidae
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
. It is distributed throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 24-28 mm. This species is extremely similar to the Marbled Minor
Marbled Minor
The Marbled Minor is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.This is a rather small species , the forewings usually being dark brown with a pale subterminal band, the hindwings pale brown. Melanic forms are often encountered, especially in industrial areas...
(Oligia strigilis) and the Tawny Marbled Minor
Tawny Marbled Minor
The Tawny Marbled Minor is a species of moth belonging to the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.This species is extremely similar to the Marbled Minor and the Rufous Minor and specific identification usually requires close study of the genitalia. With a wingspan of 24-27 mm, O...
(Oligia latruncula) and specific identification usually requires close study of the genitalia. O. versicolor has a wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
of 23-28 mm and often has more brightly coloured forewings than its congeners with rich reddish-brown tones and a grey subterminal band. There is also often one or more tufts of reddish hairs on the thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
, always lacking in its congeners. Although melanism
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
occurs in this species it is much less frequent than in the other two species. O. versicolor flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light and sugar.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
feeds internally on the stems of various grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es (including Carex
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
species, Luzula luzoloides, Bracilypodium sylvaticum and Poa pratensis), pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
ting in a cocoon among the roots. This species overwinters as a larva.
- The flight season refers to the British IslesBritish IslesThe British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. This may vary in other parts of the range.