Ascalapha odorata

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Ascalapha odorata
Ascalapha odorata, female

Ascalapha odorata , female

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Erebinae
Genre : Ascalapha
Type : Ascalapha odorata
Scientific name
Ascalapha odorata
( Linnaeus , 1758)
male
Caterpillar

Ascalapha odorata , sometimes also referred to as the black witch , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterfly (Noctuidae)found in North, Central and South America.

features

butterfly

With an average wingspan of between 100 and 165 millimeters, they are very large butterflies that sometimes look like a bat . The basic color of the upper sides of the wings of Ascalapha odorata is dark brown. A light gray-brown to brown-violet marbling can be seen on the surface of all wings. The large kidney flaw with a purple core in the lower part is typical of the species . There are two elongated eye spots near the anal corner that make the moths distinctive. There is a slight sexual dimorphism between the sexes , since only in the females a double, strongly jagged whitish transverse line extends over the fore and hind wings. The undersides of the wings are graduated light reddish brown without drawing.

Caterpillar

Adult caterpillars have a black-brown basic color, from which a few large ocher-colored spots on the back and smaller ones on the sides stand out.

Occurrence, habitat and migration behavior

The species is widespread in dense forests in North, Central and South America, including islands in the Caribbean and Hawaii . Sometimes it is found in Europe itself. It is conceivable that the moths will be blown across the Atlantic with strong storms due to favorable weather conditions. However, it cannot be ruled out that all evidence in Europe can be traced back to introductions. From the end of May, migratory movements from Mexico to the north were observed and individual specimens were even found in Alaska . Whether this is an area expansion of a migratory butterfly collection group (dismigrants) has to be investigated more closely. Likewise, whether there is a return migration. A remarkable observation was made in 2003: The Hurricane Claudette tangierte during his turn through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico , the Lesser Antilles , the south of Jamaica and the northern part of the peninsula Yucatan and reached Port O'Connor , the Texas mainland. Immediately after the passage of the hurricane , hundreds of Ascalapha odorata butterflies were observed, which flew in large numbers over the still rough sea and the beach and sat on house walls, balconies and various other places. It appears that the moths use strong winds up to the strength of a hurricane as an energy-saving means of transport to develop new habitats . Further research is needed in this regard.

Way of life

The main flight time of the nocturnal moths falls from June to October. In the southern regions they form a polyvoltine generation line. They like to suckle on overripe fruits, tree sap or bait and also appear on artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed primarily on the leaves of legumes (Fabaceae). Other food crops include the mulberry family (Moraceae) and sumac family (Anacardiaceae).

Mythology, symbolism, culture

In many cultures, Ascalapha odorata is ascribed a strong symbolic power and there are numerous legends about the animals:

  • In Mexico , for example, there is a myth that the appearance of a butterfly in the house of a sick person will result in their imminent death.
  • In some parts of Mexico it is rumored that if you fly over the human head, hair loss can be expected.
  • In Jamaica , the moth is seen as the embodiment of a lost soul connected with evil spirits to harm people.
  • In Cuba , superstitious people consider it a bad omen when the moths appear in homes.
  • In Hawaii, the belief is widespread that a butterfly flies to the afterlife with the soul of someone who has just died and sends the bereaved a farewell greeting.
  • In the Bahamas, on the other hand, a legend has it that if the moth lands on a person, they will soon come to a lot of money.
  • Finally, in Texas , his appearance on the doorstep is interpreted as a message that he is about to win a lottery.

Trivia

In the novel The Silence of the Lambs , the dolls of Ascalapha odorata are found in the mouths of the victims of a serial killer.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Michael Fibiger, László Ronkay, José Luis Yela, Alberto Zilli: Noctuidae Europaeae. Volume 12, Entomological Press, Sorø, Denmark 2010, ISBN 978-87-89430-17-1 , pp. 242/243.
  2. ↑ underside of the wing
  3. ↑ lepiforum.de
  4. ↑ a b c Mike Quinn: The Black Witch Moth: Its Natural & Cultural History , Texas Entomology, 2008 [1]
  5. ↑ Brush Freeman: A Fallout of Black Witches (Ascalapha odorata) Associated with Hurricane Claudette. , News of the Lepidopterists' Society, Volume 45, Number 3, 2003, p. 71 [2]

Web links

Commons : Ascalapha odorata  - collection of images, videos and audio files