The large ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe and North Africa.

Polymixis flavicincta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Polymixis
Species:
P. flavicincta
Binomial name
Polymixis flavicincta
Synonyms
  • Noctua flavicincta Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Noctua dysodea Esper, 1790
  • Polymixis major (Esper, 1790)
  • Polia ochracea Smith, 1900
  • Andropolia ochracea
  • Polymixis lajonquierei
Illustration

Technical description and variation

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A. flavicincta F. (= flavicincta-major Esp., dysodea Esp. nec Hbn.) (33 c, d). Forewing pale grey speckled with darker olive grey, especially in median area; the edges of the stigmata, the course of the basal and submarginal lines, and vein 1 marked by orange scales; lines dark olive; upper stigmata paler; the claviform darker; median shade distinct; hindwing grey, darker in female, with veins, cell spot, outer line, and submarginal shade darker; the species varies in depth of colour; the darker forms are known as ab. meridionalis Bsd. (33 d) from Spain and Corsica; — calvescens Bsd. (33 d) [ Polymixis rufocincta calvescens (Boisduval, 1840) ] on the other hand is a pale grey form with the yellow scaling , all but obsolete, occurring in S. France, Italy, and Sicily; ab. albescens ab. nov. (33 d) is dull white, without grey dusting except in median area, the upper stigmata also whitish; hindwing paler. Larva pale bluish green, with a darker dorsal vessel and broad pale spiracular stripe; head green. [1] The wingspan is 40–50 mm. The length of the forewings is 17–22 mm.

Biology

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The moth flies in one generation from the end of August to November [1] and are attracted to light.

The larvae feed on various grasses, such as mint, Taraxacum officinale, Senecio, Fireweed and at times even fruit bearing trees.

Subspecies

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  • Polymixis flavicincta flavicincta
  • Polymixis flavicincta meridionalis (Boisduval, 1840) (Corsica,...)
  • Polymixis flavicincta lajonquierei Boursin, 1963 (Spain,...)
  • Polymixis flavicincta caroli Plante, 1975 (Algeria,...)
  • Polymixis flavicincta laportei Plante, 1975 (Morocco,...)

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. ^ 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.
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