Munchy Owl
| Munchy Owl | ||||||||||||
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Moony Owl ( Calophasia lunula ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Calophasia lunula | ||||||||||||
| ( Hufnagel , 1766) |
The moon owl ( Calophasia lunula ), also called light gray toadflax cape owl , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).
features
butterfly
With a wingspan of 26 to 32 millimeters, the moths are one of the smaller species of owl butterfly. The forewings are gray-brown in color and show stripe-shaped, white-gray interferences. It is named after the conspicuously protruding, crescent-shaped, white kidney flaws. The ring flaws are dotted and outlined in black. The middle field, which is bordered by light transverse lines, is narrow and darkened. On the outer edge, the fringes are alternately colored brown and white. The hind wings are dark gray-brown without drawing, a little lighter in the root area and show white fringes. Hood-like tufts of hair on the head and thorax are characteristic .
egg
The yellowish egg is conical with a blunt tip. The surface is covered with strong longitudinal ribs.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars have a whitish or yellow basic color, from which two side ridge lines formed from large black spots stand out. The flanks are provided with a large number of irregularly arranged, small black dots.
Doll
The approximately 14 mm long doll is colored reddish brown with darker segment rings. On each side there is a row of darker points, one point per segment. The pupa is relatively stocky with a short, conical abdomen. The blunt Kremaster has four short bristles. The proboscis sheath is extremely long and reaches the end of the abdomen or even protrudes slightly above it.
Similar species
- The moths of Calophasia hamiferaii are generally darker and less contrasting in appearance.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The occurrence of the species extends through all of Central and Southern Europe to Russia and Central and East Asia . However, it is missing in Japan . To control toadflax ( Linaria ), the crescent owl was introduced in North America in 1965 and is therefore also found in parts of Canada and the USA . In the Alps it can be found at heights of up to 2000 meters. The species prefers warm slopes, steppe heaths and wasteland.
Way of life
The Moondcheneule forms two or three overlapping generations depending on the region; in Scandinavia it is only one generation, in southern Europe it is up to three generations. The moths fly accordingly from April to September. They are predominantly crepuscular, but also visit flowers during the day, for example those of pigeon goiter ( Silene vulgaris ). They only appear occasionally at night in front of artificial light sources or lures . The up to 400 eggs are laid individually or in small groups on the underside of the leaves or on the stems of the food plants of the caterpillars. These are different species of toadflax ( Linaria spp.). The caterpillars of all stages feed on the leaves, flowers and finer stems. Pupation takes place in a tough, silk cocoon, in which organic material is included, on the ground or in the litter. The species overwinters as a pupa , part of the population could also overwinter as a caterpillar.
Under favorable breeding conditions (21 ° C and 16 hours of daylight) the owl needs 55 to 56 days to develop from the laying of the egg to the hatching of the butterfly. However, the development time is strongly dependent on the temperature. Development at 30 ° C only takes about 25 days. The lower limit at which the species can still develop is around 13.5 ° C.
Danger
In Germany, the Möndcheneule occurs predominantly in the southern and central federal states. It is listed as not endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species .
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Gábor Ronkay & Lázló Ronkay: Cucullinae II . In: Michael Fibiger, Martin R. Honey, W. Gerald Tremevan (Eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 7 . Entomological Press, Sorø 1995, ISBN 87-89430-04-2 (English).
- ↑ a b c d e A. S. Mcclay and RB Hughes: Effects of Temperature on Developmental Rate, Distribution, and Establishment of Calophasia lunula (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a Biocontrol Agent for Toadflax (Linaria spp). Biological Control, 5 (3): 368-377, 1995 doi : 10.1006 / bcon.1995.1043
- ↑ K. Mikkola, JD Lafontaine, VS Kononenko: Zoogeography of the Holarctic species of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): importance of the Beringian refuge. Entomologica Fennica, 2, 1991
- ↑ Rings, RW, EH Metzler, FJ Arnold, and DH Harris. The owlet moths of Ohio (order Lepidoptera: family Noctuidae). Ohio Biol. Surv. Bull. New Ser. Vol. 9 (2). College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University Columbus, OH, 1992
- ↑ Eric M. Coombs, Janet K. Clark, Gary L. Piper, Alfred F. Cofrancesco Jr .: Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States . Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, 2004
- ↑ Walter Forster, Theodor A. Wohlfahrt: The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5
- ^ 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
- 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 .
- Gábor Ronkay & Lázló Ronkay: Cucullinae II . In: Michael Fibiger, Martin R. Honey, W. Gerald Tremevan (Eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 7 . Entomological Press, Sorø 1995, ISBN 87-89430-04-2 (English).
- 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
- Calophasia lunula in Fauna Europaea