Oligia fasciuncula

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

Oligia fasciuncula
Scientific 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

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

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.

Fig.2 larva after last moult

Biology

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.

Notes

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

External links

• Middle-barred Minor at UKmoths
• Funet Taxonomy
• Lepiforum.de
• Vlindernet.nl (in Dutch)