Oligia fasciuncula, the middle-barred minor, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe.

Oligia fasciuncula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Oligia
Species:
O. fasciuncula
Binomial name
Oligia fasciuncula
(Haworth, 1809)

Technical description and variation

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Forewing bright rufous, the median and terminal areas deeper; the inner and outer lines white, especially the outer on inner margin; stigmata slightly paler; hindwing blackish fuscous, the fringe whitish; - ab. cana Stgr. is much paler, especially the basal and outer areas, the colouration more olive drab, without any rufous tint;- pallida Tutt is an extreme form of this, with the median area hoary as well as the basal and outer - suffusa Tutt, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, is greyish black, with all markings faint, somewhat resembling aethiops Haw.; a Scotch form, ab. brunneata is browner, especially the lower half of median area.[Oligia fasciuncula is] recorded [1914 ] only from Western Europe, Britain, Denmark, Holland, N. France, and Spain. This much restricted area of distribution affords a strong reason for not considering this species a form of strigilis.[1]

 
Fig.2 larva after last moult

Biology

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The moth flies in one generation from mid-May to late-July. [1].

Larva dull flesh colour; the lines pale greyish ochreous; head and thoracic plate pale brown. The larvae feed in the stems of various grasses, such as tufted hair-grass and Festuca ovina.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ "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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