Opima kitten owl

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Opima kitten owl
Orthosia opima.jpg

Opima kitten-owl ( Orthosia (Cororthosia) opima )

Systematics
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Hadeninae
Genre : Orthosia
Subgenus : Cororthosia
Type : Opima kitten owl
Scientific name
Orthosia (Cororthosia) opima
( Huebner , 1809)

The opima kitten owl ( Orthosia (Cororthosia) opima ) or Moorheiden spring owl is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 34 to 39 millimeters. The color spectrum of the forewings ranges from gray or blue-gray to violet-gray or brown-gray. The apex is relatively pointed. A dark middle shadow is noticeable. Ring and kidney defects are often outlined in a thin yellowish color, but are usually not emphasized. The wavy line runs very straight from the costa to the inner edge and is slightly brown in color. The hind wings are indistinguishable gray-brown. The antennae of the males are only lightly ciliate like a sawtooth.

Egg, caterpillar

The hemispherical egg is initially greenish-yellow in color, later reddish-yellow and shows slightly wavy, reticulated ribs. The caterpillars are purple-brown in color, with small white dots and narrow, light back and side ridge lines, black side stripes and a yellow belly side.

Similar species

There is a certain similarity to the poplar kitten owl ( Orthosia populeti ) and the variable kitten owl ( Orthosia incerta ). In these two types, however, the wavy line is provided with a kink on the inner edge of the forewings. In addition, the front wings are more rounded. In addition, the antennae in the males of populeti show distinct comb teeth.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The occurrence of the species extends from Central and Northern Europe eastwards to Inner Asia . In the west and north, the distribution limit runs from France over the British Isles to southern Fennoscandinavia , in the south from the southern edge of the Alps to the Balkans . In the mountains it is absent at higher altitudes. The opima kitten owl is mostly native of damp habitats. These include bog heaths, bog forests, swampy meadows and bush borders.

Way of life

The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal and visit artificial light sources as well as rare bait . They prefer blooming pussy willows for feeding . Their very early flight time also runs largely parallel to the willow blossom ( Salix ) and therefore mainly covers the months of March to May. The caterpillars live in May and June. They feed on the leaves of various plants, such as

and others. Pupation takes place in a cave where the wintering takes place.

Danger

The opima kitten-owl can be found in different numbers in Germany, is rare in some areas, so that it is classified in category 3 (endangered) on the Red List of Endangered Species .

swell

literature

  • Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela, Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II. - Noctuidae Europaeae, Volume 5. , Sorø, 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela, Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II. - Noctuidae Europaeae, Volume 5. , Sorø, 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9 .
  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. ↑ 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. ↑ E. and H. Urbahn: The butterflies of Pomerania. Entomological Association in Stettin 100th year 1939
  5. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 978-3-89624-110-8 .

Web links

Commons : Opima Kitten-Owl  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files