Cotton boll owl
| Cotton boll owl | ||||||||||||
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Cotton Capsule Owl ( Helicoverpa armigera ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Helicoverpa armigera | ||||||||||||
| ( Huebner , 1808) |
The cotton capsule owl ( Helicoverpa armigera ) or cotton owl is a butterfly ( moth ) from the owl butterfly family (Noctuidae). Occasionally the species is also called Resedaeule or Harmful Maiseule .
features
butterfly
The wingspan of the moth is 30 to 41 millimeters. The basic color of the sexes is different. Male moths vary in the basic color from pale yellow to gray-green, females predominantly show reddish tones. Overall, the drawing is pretty low in contrast. The small kidney flaws stand out darkly filled. Ring and cone flaws are blurred and enclosed by a thin line, sometimes they are missing. Occasionally, a slightly darkened wedge spot appears near the apex . An indistinct central spot and a broad, darkened band with light fringes can be seen on the yellow-gray hind wings.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa
The egg is initially whitish green in color. It is heavily ribbed and has a flattened base. Shortly before the young caterpillar hatches, its color shimmers through the egg shell.
Adult caterpillars vary in color from gray-green through various brownish tones to rust-red. They show several wavy, light longitudinal lines. The back, secondary back and the broad side lines are colored whitish. The large, black point warts are particularly noticeable. They are also provided with some fine, bristle-like hair.
Two long thorns on the cremaster are characteristic of the red-brown colored doll .
Similar species
- Heliothis peltigera has a more distinctive pattern and darker hind wings. The distinct kidney defects are associated with the anterior margin.
- Heliothis nubigera is somewhat darker in color and shows ring blemishes filled with gray.
- Helicoverpa zea is similar to armigera in appearance, but is found in North America .
distribution and habitat
The cotton capsule owl has a tropical to subtropical distribution. As a migratory butterfly , however, it even reaches areas in the north of Fennoscandinavia and the British Isles in climatically favorable years . The warmth-loving species occurs mainly on sunny slopes and embankments, on wastelands or in gardens and plantations with cultivated plants.
Way of life
The moths are diurnal and nocturnal, like to visit flowers such as the butterfly lilac ( Buddleja davidii ) and marigolds ( Calendula ) and occasionally come to artificial light sources in the evening . They fly in two generations in May and June and July to October. The caterpillars prefer to feed on the flowers and fruits of many different plants. These include Reseda species (Resedaceae), hemp ( cannabis ), tobacco ( Nicotiana ), paprika ( Capsicum ) and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ). In the south they occasionally occur harmful in cotton ( Gossypium ) or maize growing areas ( Zea mays ) , which is why they have been given the names "cotton boll worm" or "corn cob worm". North of the Alps, they are often brought in with fruit, vegetables or flower exports. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Danger
The occurrence of the cotton bollard owl in Germany depends on the rate of entry from the south. The animals do not survive the cold winters in Central Europe. They are classified on the Red List of Endangered Species as migrant butterflies or Irrgast.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Michael Fibiger, Lázló Ronkay, Axel Steiner, Alberto Zilli: Pantheinae, Dilobinae, Acronictinae, Eustrotiinae, Nolinae, Bagisarinae, Acontiinae, Metoponiinae, Heliothinae and Bryophilinae . In: Michael Fibiger, Lázló Ronkay, Barry Goater, Mariann Fibiger (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 11 . Entomological Press, Sorø, Denmark 2009, ISBN 978-87-89430-14-0 (English).
- ^ Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .
- ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .
literature
- Michael Fibiger, Lázló Ronkay, Axel Steiner, Alberto Zilli: Pantheinae, Dilobinae, Acronictinae, Eustrotiinae, Nolinae, Bagisarinae, Acontiinae, Metoponiinae, Heliothinae and Bryophilinae . In: Michael Fibiger, Lázló Ronkay, Barry Goater, Mariann Fibiger (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 11 . Entomological Press, Sorø, Denmark 2009, ISBN 978-87-89430-14-0 (English).
- Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .
- Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
Web links
- Lepiforum eV photos
- www.schmetterlinge-deutschlands.de Endangerment
- Helicoverpa armigera at Fauna Europaea