Alpine wool after

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Alpine wool after
Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Huckling (Lasiocampidae)
Genre : Eriogaster
Subgenus : Eriogaster
Type : Alpine wool after
Scientific name
Eriogaster arbusculae
( Freyer , 1849)
Alpine woolen caterpillar
( Eriogaster arbusculae )
Spring woolen caterpillar
( Eriogaster lanestris )
(for comparison)

The Alpine Wollafter ( Eriogaster arbusculae ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the mother hen (Lasiocampidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the males is 31 to 35 millimeters, that of the females 36 to 43 millimeters. The basic color of the forewings is dark red-brown to gray-brown. At the wing root and in the middle field there is a bright white spot, whereby the one at the wing root in the males is mostly in the form of a U. The middle field is bordered to the outside by a white, slightly wavy transverse line that continues on the hind wings. These are slightly lighter than the forewings. The thorax and abdomen are hairy reddish brown in both sexes. The females are provided with a dense, woolly, gray anal bush ("Wollafter"). The antennae of the males are long, those of the females are combed very short. The proboscis is stunted.

Similar species

Since the moths in both sexes hardly differ from those of the spring woolen sucker ( Eriogaster lanestris ), it has long been disputed whether the alpine wool sucker is actually a separate species and not just a mountain form of E. lanestris . The caterpillars , however, show very clear differentiating features . Those of the Alpen-Wollafters are black-brown, finely reddish-haired and show two rows with alternating white and larger orange-yellow spots on the back. They also have a large number of very small white dots on each side. The caterpillars of spring wool are colored blue-black. They have long, yellow-white hair, slightly reddish at the base. On both sides of the back there are paired, rust-red, short tufts of hair that are bordered by yellowish or whitish lines downwards.

distribution and habitat

The alpine wool after is found in Europe in some areas of the Alps above 1600 meters as well as in mountainous areas of Fenno Scandinavia . In the 20th century it was sometimes found in large numbers in the Bavarian Alps, but then became rarer from year to year. Further research is required to determine whether he is still at home there. The species prefers to colonize bushy alpine meadows, dwarf shrub mats and moist slopes.

Way of life

The moths form one generation per year, which can be found from April to July. The males fly at dusk and visit artificial light sources at night . The females lay the eggs in the form of long clutches on branches and cover them with anal wool. The caterpillars live from June to August and feed on the leaves of bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) or bogberry ( Vaccinium uliginosum ), as well as birch ( Betula ), willow ( Salix ) and alder species ( Alnus ). They pupate in a barrel-shaped cocoon . The pupa overwinters and often lingers for several years.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Josef J. de Freina: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the Western Palaearctic. Volume 1. Noctuoidea, Sphingoidea, Geometoidea, Bombycoidea. EFW Edition Research & Science Verlag GmbH, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-926285-00-1
  2. ^ Hans-Josef Weidemann, Jochen Köhler: Moths, Spinners and Swarmers . Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-89440-128-1
  3. ↑ Walter Forster, Theodor A. Wohlfahrt: The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 3: Weirdos and Swarmers. (Bombyces and Sphinges). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1960, DNB 456642196 .

literature

  • Josef J. de Freina: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the West Palaearctic. Volume 1. Noctuoidea, Sphingoidea, Geometoidea, Bombycoidea. EFW Edition Research & Science Verlag GmbH, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-926285-00-1
  • Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 3: Weirdos and Swarmers. (Bombyces and Sphinges). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1960, DNB 456642196 .

Web links

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