Southern bear
| Southern bear | ||||||||||||
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Southern bear ( Cymbalophora pudica ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cymbalophora pudica | ||||||||||||
| ( Esper , 1785) |
The southern bear ( Cymbalophora pudica ), also known as the southern grass bear , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the subfamily of the bear moth (Arctiinae).
features
butterfly
The moths have a wingspan of 35 to 42 millimeters for the males and 37 to 43 millimeters for the females. Their forewings have a milky white to pinkish white basic color, which is interrupted by black spots. In the hem area, the spots are usually triangular. The intensity of the markings can vary greatly. In the post-disk region of the pink-white hind wings, some round, black spots can be seen. The blackish hairy thorax is characterized by a broad, yellowish ruff and two yellow-white longitudinal stripes on both sides of the center. The red color of the abdomen, which has some dark spots, is typical of the species. The antennae of the males are ciliate, those of the females are thread-like.
Caterpillar
The caterpillars are gray-brown in color, hairy and have black-brown warts on each segment. In fully grown animals, the hair is pointed and firm.
Similar species
There is a certain similarity to the butterflies of Cymbalophora powelli . With wingspans of 29 millimeters for females and 30 to 38 millimeters for males, these are smaller and also show black spots on the forewings that are closer to each other.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The species is widespread and mostly not uncommon in North Africa and the Mediterranean region, including the Mediterranean islands. It prefers to live in sunny, rocky areas as well as steppe heaths and grasslands .
Way of life
The main flight time of the moths extends from August to November, whereby the majority of them only hatch after the end of the greatest summer heat. The caterpillars feed on various sweet grasses ( Poaceae ), which they feed on at night. They hatch from late autumn and hibernate, only to pupate mostly in May.
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Josef J. de Freina, Thomas J. Witt: Noctuoidea, Sphingoidea, Geometroidea, Bombycoidea . In: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the Western Palaearctic . 1st edition. tape 1 . EFW Edition Research & Science, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-926285-00-1 .
literature
- Josef J. de Freina, Thomas J. Witt: Noctuoidea, Sphingoidea, Geometroidea, Bombycoidea . In: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the Western Palaearctic . 1st edition. tape 1 . EFW Edition Research & Science, Munich 1987, ISBN 3-926285-00-1 .
Web links
- Lepiforum eV taxonomy and photos
- Cymbalophora pudica at Fauna Europaea. Retrieved May 20, 2011