Bog forest owl

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Bog forest owl
Papestra biren.jpg

Peat owl ( Papestra biren )

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Hadeninae
Genre : Papestra
Type : Bog forest owl
Scientific name
Papestra biren
( Goeze , 1781)

The peat owl ( Papestra biren ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 30 to 38 millimeters. The color of the relatively narrow fore wings varies from blue-gray to silver-ash-gray and gray-brown to black-gray. Cones, kidney and ring blemishes are clearly light gray and partially filled with brownish color. The lying W-sign of the wavy line is small and indistinct and sometimes completely absent. However, the black arrow spots are large and noticeable. Specimens with a blackish tint are called forma aperta Hbn. designated. The hind wings are solid gray-brown.

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The dirty orange, hemispherical egg shows slightly wavy ribs. The center spot and the band are carmine-red. The caterpillars have a typical red-brown head and body color and a continuous, dark angular markings on their back. The first three abdominal segments of the black-brown colored pupa are sharply serrated. The cremaster is shaped like a shovel and has two longer outer and two shorter inner thorns.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The species is widespread in Europe but is absent in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Greece. In the Alps, it rises to an altitude of 2200 meters. The further distribution extends over Kashmir to East Asia, Japan and North America. The species was introduced in Newfoundland after 1935, has since expanded ever further south and now partially overlaps with the similar Papestra quadrata native to North America (Smith, 1891). The peat owl is preferred in moist, mountainous areas. It is mainly found in raised bogs, boggy heaths and moist coniferous forests.

Way of life

The moths are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal, but also suckle on various flowers during the day or at dusk, for example pigeon goiter ( Silene vulgaris ). They visit artificial light sources , occasionally bait, and fly in just one generation from late May to July. The caterpillars live mostly from July to September. They mainly feed on the leaves of bilberry ( Vaccinium uliginosum ) and blueberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ). Occasionally, caterpillars have also been found on Sal willow ( Salix caprea ) or mountain ash ( Sorbusa ucuparia ). During breeding, they also take leaves of dandelion ( Taraxacum ) and raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ). If there is a lack of moisture, they develop into murder caterpillars , i. that is, they attack siblings and suck them up. This behavior is also known from the caterpillars of the trapezoid owl ( Cosmia trapezina ) and the mugwort earth owl ( Actebia praecox ). The species overwinters as a pupa.

Danger

The peat owl is widespread in Germany and can be found in different frequencies. On the Red List of Threatened Species it is on the warning list (Category V).

swell

literature

  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0 .
  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 4/1: Owls. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1954, DNB 450378373 .
  • Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay & Márton Hreblay: Noctuidae Europaeae. Volume 4, Hadeninae I, Entomological Press, Søro 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay & Márton Hreblay: Noctuidae Europaeae. Volume 4, Hadeninae I, Entomological Press, Søro 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7 .
  2. ↑ a b Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0 .
  3. ^ A b 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. ↑ Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 4/1: Owls. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1954, DNB 450378373 .
  5. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

Web links

Commons : Bog forest leaf owl ( Papestra biren )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files