Larkspur Sun Owl

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Larkspur Sun Owl
Periphanes delphinii.jpg

Delphinium Sun Owl ( Periphanes delphinii )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Heliothinae
Genre : Periphanes
Type : Larkspur Sun Owl
Scientific name
Periphanes delphinii
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The periphanes delphinii ( Periphanes delphinii ) or Rittersporneule is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of cutworms (Noctuidae).

features

The wingspan of the very striking and attractive moths is around 30 to 36 millimeters. The basic color of the forewings varies from light pink to bright red-violet or purple-red to reddish-brown. The basal field is designed like a fan, dark reddish brown in color and sharply demarcated from the middle field. Cone and ring flaws are not recognizable, only the kidney flaws stand out dark and sometimes extend to the costa . The middle field and outer fringing area are light pink to purple-red, while the inner fringing area is red-brown in color. The double transverse lines are filled in light red. The thorax is hairy yellow. The hind wings show a light color on the inside, a central spot and go outwards first in red-brown and immediately before the edge in pink-red tones. The outer edge of all wings is provided with relatively long, very fine, yellowish or whitish hairs. The caterpillars are light purple-gray in color, provided with many, irregular, black dots and lines and often show indistinct, yellow side stripes. Greenish wing sheaths stand out on the slender, red-brown pupa . Two long thorns can be seen on the rounded cremaster .

distribution and habitat

The delphinium sun owl is widespread from Afghanistan and the steppe areas of Central and Asia Minor to the Mediterranean region, including northwest Africa. It can also be found in some south-east European regions. The very warmth-loving species occurs mainly in steppes, on warm slopes, hot wastelands, vineyards and gardens.

Way of life

The moths are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal, but can also be found during the day on different flowers to which they are colored. They visit artificial light sources and prefer sucking on the flowers of the fodder plant over bait to eat . Your flight time includes the months of May and June. The caterpillars live from July to August. They feed mainly on the flowers and seeds of field barbarian spur ( Delphinium consolida ), sometimes also on blue monkshood ( Aconitum napellus ). The species overwinters in a burrow in the ground as a pupa.

Danger

The delphinium sun owl has been considered extinct in Germany since the beginning of the twentieth century . Occasional later individual finds are probably immigrant animals. The species is therefore listed in Category 0 (extinct or lost) on the Red List of Threatened Species .

swell

literature

  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . Volume 6, Nachtfalter IV. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  2. ↑ a b Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . Volume 6, Nachtfalter IV. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9
  3. ↑ Manfred Koch : We identify butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9

Web links

Commons : Larkspur Sun Owl  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files