Crypsedra gemmea

Crypsedra gemmea
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Crypsedra
Species:	C. gemmea
Binomial name
Crypsedra gemmea (Treitschke, 1825)
Synonyms
Miselia gemmea Polymixis gemmea Hadena gemmea

Crypsedra gemmea is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Central and Northern Europe.

Technical description and variation

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

C. gemmea Tr. (32 f). Superficially resembling L. viridana, the ground colour being the same olive- brown and the markings black and white; the orbicular stigma, however, is always round, not irregular in shape; the claviform of the ground colour, black-edged, sometimes with a few whitish scales in it, and of the ordinary shape, not triangular; the costal area is sprinkled with white scales; submarginal line white, preceded by black dentate marks; fringe brown with fine white chequering; hindwing in both sexes brownish grey, paler towards base, with cellspot and veins dark. Larva glossy bluish or greenish grey; tubercles black carrying a single pale hair; head, thoracic, and anal plates black brown.[1] The length of the fore-wings is 16–20 mm.

Biology

The moth flies from July to September depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various grasses, but prefer Molinia caerulea.

References

1. Warren. W. in 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 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

• Fauna Europaea
• Lepiforum.de
• Vlindernet.nl (in Dutch)
• Norwegian moths and butterflies - The Cameo