Trident grass owl

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Trident grass owl
Cerapteryx graminis-01 (xndr) .jpg

Trident grass owl ( Cerapteryx graminis )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Hadeninae
Genre : Cerapteryx
Type : Trident grass owl
Scientific name
Cerapteryx graminis
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The trident grass owl ( Cerapteryx graminis ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the owl butterfly family (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth has a very wide range and is 24 to 38 millimeters. The females are much larger than the males. Very small specimens also appear in the Alps , their wingspan only reaching 16 to 18 millimeters. The forewings have a basic color that varies from yellow-gray to gray-brown and red-brown to dark brown. The mostly yellowish kidney defects, which have been transformed into a trident, are characteristic. The oval ring flaws and the elongated tenon flaws also shimmer in this color. The central vein is whitish. There are sometimes black wedge marks near the hem. A dark line can be seen below the flaws. The hind wings are gray-brown and darkened towards the edge. The head and thorax are densely hairy.

Caterpillar

Young caterpillars are greenish in color and change their color from gray-brown to brown with age. They then appear clumsy and have a cylindrical shape. They also show light back and side back lines as well as black stigmas . The underside and legs are light brown. The head is shiny brownish.

Similar species

The species Cerapteryx megala , native to Asia, is on average somewhat larger and shows a less pronounced whitish central vein.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The trident grass owl is found in almost all of Europe. However, it is absent in the very dry southern regions. The northernmost occurrence extends to Iceland and beyond the Arctic Circle . There are also deposits in Siberia and northern Mongolia . After North America, the species was introduced. In the Alps it can still be found at altitudes of 2100 meters. It inhabits areas with a predominantly humid climate and is often found on wet meadows.

Way of life

The moths fly univoltin from July to September. They are diurnal and nocturnal. Occasionally they suckle on flowers, for example those of thistles ( Cirsium ) or sage ( Salvia ). You will also visit artificial light sources and less often bait . The caterpillars live on or in the ground. They prefer to feed on the roots of various types of sweet ( Poaceae ) or sour grass ( Cyperaceae ). In rainy years there can be mass reproductions.

Danger

The three-pointed grass owl occurs in all federal states in Germany and is classified as not endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay, Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae I . In: Michael Fibiger, David Agassiz, Martin Honey (Eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 4 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7 (English).
  2. ↑ a b Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 7 . Moth V Noctuidae 3rd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0 .
  3. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay, Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae I . In: Michael Fibiger, David Agassiz, Martin Honey (Eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 4 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7 (English).
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 7 . Moth V Noctuidae 3rd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0 .
  • Manfred Koch : We determine butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .

Web links

Commons : Trident Grass Owl  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files