White-spot ram
| White-spot ram | ||||||||||||
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White-spot ram ( Amata phegea ) |
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| Amata phegea | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The white-spot ram ( Amata phegea ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the subfamily of the bear moth (Arctiinae).
features
The white-spot ram has a wingspan of 35 to 40 millimeters. Its wings are black-blue and have white spots, the number and size of which can vary. Another feature is the wide, yellow ring on the abdomen. The black antennae have white tips.
The caterpillars reach a length of up to 30 millimeters. The gray caterpillar is covered with short clumps of gray hair that sit on black warts. The caterpillar head is colored reddish brown.
Similar species
- Amata ragazzii ( Turati , 1917)
- Mutable ram ( Zygaena ephialtes ) ( Linnaeus , 1758)
Synonyms
- Syntomis phegea
mimicry
The white-spot ram imitates the changeable ram ( Zygaena ephialtes ), which is poisonous for birds and is avoided by them. The white-spot ram benefits from this.
distribution
The white-spot ram occurs particularly in southern Europe , but is also found in central Europe as far as the north-west and north-east of Germany . In the east, the distribution extends to Asia Minor and Transcaucasia . The species prefers dry areas that are openly overgrown with trees and bushes, as well as forest edges. In Central Europe, the white-spotted ram can be found particularly in light forests and bushy slopes.
Way of life
The caterpillars of the white spot Widderchens eat especially herbaceous plants, including Erika plants like heather and purple moor grass , sorrel , bedstraw and plantain . The caterpillars overwinter in a common web on the ground and then eat until May. The moths hatch from June to July.
swell
literature
- Hans-Josef Weidemann, Jochen Köhler: Moths. Weirdos and hawkers. Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1996, ISBN 3-89440-128-1 .
- Manfred Koch : We determine butterflies. Volume 2: Bears, Spinners, Swarmers and Drills in Germany. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Radebeul / Berlin 1964, DNB 452481929 .
- David J. Carter, Brian Hargreaves: Caterpillars and Butterflies of Europe and their Forage Plants. Blackwell Wissenschaftsverlag 1987, ISBN 3-826-38139-4
- Heiko Bellmann : Butterflies. Recognize and determine. Mosaik Verlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-576-11457-2
Web links
- www.lepiforum.de Taxonomy and photos
- www.schmetterling-raupe.de
- Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa (English)
- Guide to the moths of Great Britain ans Ireland (English)
- Amata phegea at Fauna Europaea