Red-brown spring ground owl

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Red-brown spring ground owl
Cerastis rubricosa (1) .JPG

Red-brown spring ground owl ( Cerastis rubricosa )

Systematics
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Noctuinae
Tribe : Noctuini
Sub tribus : Noctuina
Genre : Cerastis
Type : Red-brown spring ground owl
Scientific name
Cerastis rubricosa
( Denis & Schiffermüller , 1775)
Caterpillar

The cerastis rubricosa ( Cerastis rubricosa ) Brown Red Wegericheule is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of cutworms (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 32 to 38 millimeters. The color spectrum of the forewings shows mostly gray and reddish brown tones. There are also specimens with violet-gray or almost monochrome red wings. Ring and kidney blemishes hardly stand out from the basic color, cone blemishes are not visible. At the costal edge there are some black spots, the wavy line and the outer transverse line are darkened. The hind wings shimmer light reddish-gray or gray-brown. The short sawtooth-like antennae of the males are striking on both sides .

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The egg is initially white and turns yellow before hatching and shows a light red central spot and a wide band. The caterpillars have conspicuous yellow and brown stripes when they are young. As adults they are brownish or violet-gray in color and show narrow, yellowish, interrupted secondary lines as well as large dark spots. The squat, red-brown doll has two strong, curved and two very fine thorns on the cremaster .

Similar species

  • Yellow-spot spring ground owl ( Cerastis leucographa ): The yellowish ring and kidney defects usually stand out clearly from the basic color of the forewings. The black spots are missing at the costal edge.
  • Cerastis faceta : the blemishes are mostly dark, the collar ( patagia ) is whitish.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The occurrence of the species extends across Europe, in an easterly direction through the temperate zones of Asia to Japan . In northern Europe it partly crosses the Arctic Circle . In the south the distribution area includes the Mediterranean area and Turkey . In the mountains it occurs up to an altitude of over 1700 meters. The red-brown spring ground owl can be found in different habitats, for example on warm slopes, in deciduous forests, in clearings, in meadow valleys and raised bogs, on moorland meadows and in gardens and parks.

Way of life

The red-brown spring ground owl forms one generation per year, the moths of which fly from March to May. They suckle on blooming pussy willows and their very early flight time therefore runs largely parallel to the willow bloom ( Salix ). The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal, come to artificial light sources and visit the bait . The caterpillars live between May and July. They feed on the leaves of various plants, such as

They like to feed on the inflorescences of orchid species ( Orchidaceae ). The species overwinters in a burrow in the ground as a pupa.

Danger

The red-brown spring ground owl is widespread in Germany and can be found in large numbers in certain areas, so that it is not considered endangered.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Red Lists at Science4you
  2. ↑ Fibiger (1993: p. 183/4)
  3. ↑ a b Forster & Wohlfahrt (1971: p. 61/2)
  4. ↑ a b Axel Steiner in Ebert (1998: p. 480–483)

literature

Web links

Commons : Red-brown Spring Ground Owl  - Collection of images, videos and audio files