Dichonia aprilina

Merveille du jour
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Dichonia
Species: D. aprilina
Binomial name
Dichonia aprilina
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms

Phalaena (Noctua) aprilina Linnaeus, 1758
Noctua runica Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
Agriopis aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Griposia aprilina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Dichonia aprilinea var. bouveti Lucas, 1905
Dichonia aprilinea f. xantha Schawerda, 1909
Dichonia aprilina obscurior Wolfsberger, 1970

Dichonia aprilina, the merveille du jour, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It ranges from Sardinia and south-east Russia (foothills of the Ural mountains to the Black Sea) from the southernmost part of Norway and Saint Petersburg through northern and central Europe to southern France and northern Italy, as well as in Castile. Also in western and central Anatolia and the Caucasus. Also in Asia minor. There is recent evidence from the Alborz mountain range.[1][2][3][4][5]

Larva

Technical description and variation

For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

Forewing whitish green; lines and markings velvety black, the median shade especially thick; upper stigmata large; all the black markings emphasised by white; hindwing blackish grey; the cellspot, outer line, and submarginal shade darker; a white terminal space before the black marginal line; the ab. bouveti Lucas, from France, has the head, thorax, and forewings greener, the median area of forewing without black markings.[6]

Biology

The moth flies in September and October.

Larva greenish black, with a fulvous tinge; a dorsal series of dark medallions; dorsal line pale, interrupted, with black edges; spiracular line pale like the venter.The larvae feed internally on the flowers and leaves of oak trees.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela & Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II. In: Michael Fibiger & Martin Honey (Hrsg.): Noctuidae Europaeae. Band 5, Entomological Press, Sorø 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9., S. 164f
  2. ↑ Markku Savela. "Dichonia aprilina". funet.fi. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Christopher Jonko (2011). "Griposia aprilina". lepidoptera.eu. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Bert Gustafsson (9 October 2011). "Dichonia aprilina". Naturhistoriska riksmuseet. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Mike Wall. "2247 Merveille-du-Jour (Dichonia aprilina)". Hants Moths. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914
  7. ↑ "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London.".
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