Colorful forest grass owl

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Colorful forest grass owl
Crypsedra gemmea.01.jpg

Colorful forest grass owl ( Crypsedra gemmea )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Xyleninae
Genre : Crypsedra
Type : Colorful forest grass owl
Scientific name
Crypsedra gemmea
( Treitschke , 1825)

The colorful forest grass owl ( Crypsedra gemmea ) or forest lawn ornamental owl is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is about 36 to 44 millimeters. The color of the forewings varies from olive brown to dark brown. The costal edge is drawn alternately in black and white. A white-yellow spot can be seen in the root field. The white ring, kidney and cone flaws stand out clearly, are outlined in black and partially filled in gray on the inside. The basal as well as the inner transverse line are colored white with sharp black borders. There are some black arrow marks on the outer wavy line. The outer edge is dotted alternately brown and white. The hind wings are monochrome light gray-brown, the edge is thinly hairy whitish.

Egg, caterpillar and pupa

The egg is barrel-shaped with distinct longitudinal ribs, rounded at the base with a flat top. It initially has a light yellow color, which later changes from light red to dark red. The caterpillars are shiny bluish or greenish gray in color. The point warts are hairy black. The head, neck and anus are brown-black in color. The doll is colored brown.

Synonyms

  • Polymixa gemmea
  • Hadena gemmea

distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in Europe, often in places. In the Alps it occurs up to an altitude of about 2,000 meters. The colorful forest grass owl can be found in diverse habitats, such as moor forests, moor meadows, mixed forest edges, pine heaths, clearings and floodplains as well as park landscapes.

Way of life

The species forms one generation per year. It hibernates as an egg. The caterpillars live from April to June. They feed on different grasses, such as:

first in the stalks, later close to the ground in tubular corridors made from bitten off pieces of grass. Pupation also takes place in these. The moths fly from July to September, are nocturnal and can also be observed using artificial light sources .

Danger

Although the species is endangered in some federal states or is on the warning list of the Red List of Endangered Species , it is not considered to be acutely threatened in Germany.

swell

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Walter Forster, Theodor A. Wohlfahrt: The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  2. ↑ a b Manfred Koch: We identify butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .

Web links

Commons : Colorful forest grass owl  - album with pictures, videos and audio files