Mythimna turca

Mythimna turca
File:Mythimna turca.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Mythimna
Species:	M. turca
Binomial name
Mythimna turca Linnaeus, 1761

The Double Line (Mythimna turca) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Europe. The Eastern expansion extends through Northern Asia and Central Asia to northern China, Korea and Japan. It rises to a height of about 700 metres in the Alps.

Technical Description and variation

See glossary for terms used

The wingspan is 37–45 mm.Forewing pale rufous ochreous, dappled throughout with rufous fuscous, and very finely dusted with black atoms; inner and outer lines dark, conversely oblique; reniform stigma alone represented, forming a pale streak on discocellular, the lower end whiter, followed by a slight dark cloud; hindwing rufous, suffused in varying degrees with fuscous;- the form limbata Btlr. from Japan generally has the inner line of forewing more strongly angled beneath costa, while the legs are more heavily tufted; — ab. turcella Stgr. from Dauria is smaller and paler.

Biology

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

Larva yellowish grey, mottled with darker, especially in front; dorsal and subdorsal lines pale ochreous; a dorsal series of dark streaks; spiracles with black rings.The larvae feed on various grasses, including Dactylus glomerata, Poa nemoralis and Luzula species.

External links

• Fauna Europaea
• European Butterflies and Moths
• Lepiforum
• UK Moths