Cedar processionary moth
Cedar processionary moth | ||||||||||||
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Traumatocampa bonjeani | ||||||||||||
( Powell , 1922) |
The cedar processionary moth ( Traumatocampa bonjeani ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of tooth moth (Notodontidae).
features
The moths have a fore wing length of 15 to 17 millimeters, with the males being slightly smaller than the females. The species looks very similar to the pine processionary moth ( Traumatocampa pinivora ) and has forewings that are also whitish-gray in color, on which three fine, slightly dark-brown transverse bands run. In contrast to the similar species, the two bands further outside do not approach the inner edge of the wing, but run almost parallel, as is the case with the pine processionary moth ( Traumatocampa pityocampa ). In addition, the bandages are less strongly colored. The outermost band is jagged, the first, close to the base of the wing, is only weakly developed compared to the two outer ones. The antennae are longer and more yellow in color than in Traumatocampa pinivora . The thorax is gray-brown and hairy yellowish, the abdomen is pale red-brown in color.
Occurrence
Traumatocampa bonjeani is common in North Africa and occurs in Morocco , Tunisia and probably Algeria as well. The species colonizes both low areas on the coast and the mountains and occurs mainly in dry cedar forests.
Way of life
The adults fly from July to October. The caterpillars feed on the Atlas cedar ( Cedrus atlantica ), on which they can sometimes appear as a pest.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c 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 , p. 293 .
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 .