Thysania agrippina
| Thysania agrippina | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thysania agrippina |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Thysania agrippina | ||||||||||||
| ( Cramer , 1776) |
Thysania agrippina , sometimes also referred to as the White Witch , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae)that occurs predominantly in Central and South America.
features
butterfly
With a wingspan of up to 310 millimeters, the moths of Thysania agrippina are considered to have the longest stretched wingspan. With regard to the total wing area, they are surpassed by the atlas moth ( Attacus atlas ). The base color of the wing tops of Thysania agrippina is usually creamy white. Many strongly wavy, dark brown lines stand out on the surface of all the wings. Two blackish spots can be seen on the front edge . Ring and kidney flaws are small and brightly core. The undersides of the wings are marbled purple-gray and whitish. Due to their considerable size, the moths are distinctive.
Caterpillar
An illustration (colored copper engraving) from Surinamensium , plate XX by the natural scientist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian from 1705 on metamorphosis is available for the appearance of the caterpillar . However, since the caterpillar copy shown there shows an anal horn , it is likely to be the caterpillar of a swarm (Sphingidae).
Occurrence and habitat
The species occurs in dense forests in Central and northern South America. Individual finds have also been reported from the southern United States .
Way of life
Although it is a very showy, large, impressive and widespread species, it is rarely found due to its hidden way of life in impenetrable forests. Sometimes the moths appear in artificial light sources . Lifestyle details have yet to be researched.
Individual evidence
- ^ Project Noah
- ↑ caterpillar picture of Maria Sibylla Merian in Neue Zürcher Zeitung from July 21, 2017
- ↑ occurrence
Web links
- eol.org - Encyclopedia of Life
- hartfordschools.org - White witch project
- Illustration of the species (Plate LXXXVIII in the first description, Pieter Cramer the Younger: De uitlandsche kapellen, voorkomende in de drie waereld-deelen Asia, Africa en America, 1775) Scan through Smithsonian Libraries, archive.org.