Waterdost gold owl

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Waterdost gold owl
Water Dost Gold Owl (Diachrysia chryson)

Water Dost Gold Owl ( Diachrysia chryson )

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Plusiinae
Genre : Diachrysia
Type : Waterdost gold owl
Scientific name
Diachrysia chryson
( Esper , 1789)

The Water Dost Gold Owl ( Diachrysia chryson ), also known as the Water Dost Hump Owl , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

With a wingspan of 44 to 55 millimeters, the nominate form Diachrysia chryson chryson is one of the strikingly large species from the subfamily of gold owls. The front wings are dark brown to violet brown in color, with a slight lightening in front of the outer edge. A large, glossy, golden, angular spot that widens towards the edge is characteristic of the species and makes it unmistakable. The hind wings are yellowish-brown in color and have an indistinct center line and a slightly darkened outer edge. There is a dense tuft of hair on the head of the butterfly. The body is furry and has other smaller tufts of hair. The ssp. deltaica shows an overall paler appearance and only reaches a wingspan of 40 to 42 millimeters.

Caterpillar, pupa

Adult caterpillars are green in color. They have a dark, white-lined line of spots on the back, as well as whitish side stripes and further oblique white stripes and stigmas . The pale green wing sheaths stand out on the black colored pupa .

Similar species

Diachrysia coreae is similar to the ssp. deltaica , whichliveson the edge of the Danube Delta , while coreae is native to East Asia and therefore there is no geographical overlap.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The nominate form of the water deast gold owl occurs in southern England , large parts of Central Europe , in northern Spain and further east to Japan . In Germany it is mainly found in western and southern federal states, in the north it is rare or completely absent. In the Alps it rises to an altitude of around 1200 meters. The species prefers humid areas, such as bog and bank areas.

Way of life

The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal. They also fly to artificial light sources and can sometimes be found sucking on the flowers of common soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis ) or common adder's head ( Echium vulgare ). The females lay their eggs on the fodder plant, from which the caterpillars hatch in autumn and then prefer to feed on the leaves of common water feast ( Eupatorium cannabinum ) or sticky sage ( Salvia glutinosa ). They overwinter and pupate mostly in early June of the following year in a light web between leaves of the forage plant. The main flight time for the moths is from June to August. In the Southern Alps and the Danube Delta, there is also a second generation that flies into October.

Danger

In Germany the golden owl is on the red list of endangered species on the warning list (category V).

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Barry Goater, Lázló Ronkay, Michael Fibiger: Catocalinae & Plusiinae . In: Martin Honey, Michael Fibiger (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 10 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2003, ISBN 87-89430-08-5 (English).
  2. ^ A b Walter Forster, Theodor A. Wohlfahrt: The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  3. ^ Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .
  4. ↑ Manfred Koch: We identify butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .
  5. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 6 . Moth IV. Noctuidae 2nd part. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9 .
  • Barry Goater, Lázló Ronkay, Michael Fibiger: Catocalinae & Plusiinae . In: Martin Honey, Michael Fibiger (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 10 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2003, ISBN 87-89430-08-5 (English).
  • Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  • Manfred Koch : We determine butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .

Web links

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