Drake-tailed moth

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Drake-tailed moth
Drake-tailed moth (Clostera curtula)

Drake-tailed moth ( Clostera curtula )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Toothed Moth (Notodontidae)
Subfamily : Pygaerinae
Genre : Clostera
Type : Drake-tailed moth
Scientific name
Clostera curtula
( Linnaeus , 1758)
Falter from the front
Drake-tailed moth caterpillar

The drake- tailed moth or drake-tail ( Clostera curtula ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the toothed moth family (Notodontidae). The species is the most common of the genus in Central Europe and is considered an adaptable cultural follower as not endangered.

features

Imago

The moths reach a wingspan of 26 to 35 millimeters. They are light gray-brown to reddish brown in color and have several narrow, white cross bars on the forewings, which are also colored. The rearmost one is bordered by a large, dark to reddish-brown apical spot that borders on the front and outer edge of the wing. The hair on the thorax is also characteristically colored on the back. The tip of the abdomen bears a back and upward anal bush in the same color. In males it usually consists of two tufts. The similar black-spotted grouse ( Clostera anachoreta ) can be distinguished from the species by its blackish colored apical spot, which protrudes beyond the rearmost white transverse band. Its basic color is also colored darker gray.

egg

The hemispherical egg is flattened at the base. The surface shows an irregular network and indistinct longitudinal ribs. It is dark green in color, has a shiny surface and has a dark pole spot.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are about 35 millimeters long and have a relatively stocky build. They have a variable light yellowish, greenish or dark gray basic color and a yellowish to orange and black pattern. They are hairy white and have a greasy shine. On the fourth and eleventh segments, they have flat black back humps.

Doll

The doll is red-brown and has a cremaster studded with sharp thorns.

Similar species

Occurrence

The animals occur in Europe , east over Turkey , the Caucasus , Central Asia to East Asia in the Amur region from the flatlands to the lower mountainous region. They are absent north of the Arctic Circle , north of the British Isles , Ireland, and the southern parts of the Mediterranean . The species can be found in many different dry and moist habitats, such as in forests, especially on the edge and in the clearings of alluvial and deciduous forests, but also on dry grassland , meadows, moors , heaths and, as a successful cultural successor, in avenues and parks and gardens. The latter is particularly favored by the frequent planting of their food crops in urban areas .

Way of life

During the day, the moths sit in a resting position with their wings folded like a roof over the abdomen on trunks and twigs and stretch the tip of the abdomen with the anal bush up through between the wings. They are nocturnal and can be attracted by artificial light sources.

Flight and caterpillar times

The species flies in two generations per year from April to June and from July to August. The caterpillars of the first generation can be found from May to July, those of the second again from August to September.

Food of the caterpillars

The caterpillars feed on the leaves of poplars ( Populus ), such as the aspen ( Populus tremula ) and various types of willow ( Salix ), such as the sal willow ( Salix caprea ) and the basket willow ( Salix viminalis ). Young and low bushes of the food plants are preferred. According to some literature, they should also feed on other deciduous trees, but this could not be confirmed by Ebert.

development

The females lay their eggs individually or in small groups on the leaves of the food plants. During the day, the caterpillars hide between leaves that are flatly spun together, preferably at the tip of the branches, and are only active at night. The overwintering takes place as a pupa near the ground in leaves that are spun together.

credentials

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Axel Steiner, Ulrich Ratzel, Morten Top-Jensen, Michael Fibiger: Die Nachtfalter Deutschlands . Bugbook Publishing, 2014, ISBN 978-3-00-043862-2 , pp. 343 .
  2. ↑ Günter Ebert (Ed.): The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 4, Nachtfalter II (Bombycidae, Endromidae, Lemoniidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, Drepanidae, Notodontidae, Dilobidae, Lymantriidae, Ctenuchidae Verlag, Nolidae 1994), p. 373ff , ISBN 3-800-13474-8

literature

  • Heiko Bellmann : The new Kosmos butterfly guide. Butterflies, caterpillars and forage plants. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-440-09330-1 .
  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 3: Weirdos and Swarmers. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1953, DNB 450378365 .
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 4, Moths II (Bombycidae, Endromidae, Lasiocampidae, Lemoniidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, Drepanidae, Notodontidae, Dilobidae, Lymantriidae, Ctenuchidae, Nolidae). Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1994. ISBN 3-8001-3474-8 .
  • Hans-Josef Weidemann, Jochen Köhler: Moths. Weirdos and hawkers. Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-89440-128-1 .
  • 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

Commons : Drake-tailed moth  - album with pictures, videos and audio files