White-spotted carnation owl
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White-spotted carnation owl ( Hadena albimacula ) |
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| Hadena albimacula | ||||||||||||
| ( Borkhausen , 1792) |
The white-spotted carnation owl ( Hadena albimacula ) or white-spotted catchfly capsule is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).
features
The wingspan of the moth is 28 to 37 millimeters. The color of the fore wings varies from reddish brown to olive brown to chocolate brown. A dark, white line can be seen in the root field. The large, white ring flaws stand out clearly, have a black border and a small dark point on the inside. Below is a striking, almost square white field. The kidney defects are often blurred and then do not stand out very strongly from the environment. The same applies to the cone blemishes, which are usually filled with black-brown . The middle field is darkened, the transverse lines strongly jagged, the outer edge alternating brown and white dotted. The hind wings are monochrome light gray-brown to ocher-colored, slightly darker towards the outside and show a thin, darker central line and an indistinct central spot. There is a certain similarity to the colorful forest grass owl ( Crypsedra gemmea ), which however has a less reddish-brown basic color, has white spots at the base of the forewings and mostly lighter kidney defects and only an indistinct white field below the ring defects.
The caterpillars are reddish gray, greenish, brownish or ocher yellow in color. They have a dark streak on their back, a light side stripe and some irregularly distributed dark spots. The doll is red-brown with two distinct points on the cremaster .
Similar species
- Colorful forest grass owl ( Crypsedra gemmea )
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is widespread in Europe, except in the north of Great Britain, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In the Alps it occurs up to an altitude of about 2000 meters. The further overall distribution includes North Africa, Central Asia (there in the ssp. Excelsia Hacker, 1996) and the western Himalayan region (there in the ssp. Nivalis Hacker, 1996). The white-spotted carnation owl is mainly found on limestone soil and prefers sunny forest edges, warm slopes and grass-rich rock regions.
Way of life
The moths are predominantly nocturnal, but also suckle on the flowers of various catchfly species ( Silene ) during the day . They also visit artificial light sources and fly from May to July. The caterpillars live from June to August. In their youth they feed on the seed pods of nodding catchfly ( Silene nutans ) or pigeon goiter ( Silene vulgaris ), later on their leaves. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Danger
The white-spotted carnation owl is nowhere common in Germany. In some federal states it is considered to be extinct or lost and is classified in category 2 (highly endangered) on the Red List of Endangered Species .
swell
literature
- Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
- Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0
- Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay & Márton Hreblay: Noctuidae Europaeae Volume 4, Hadeninae I, Entomological Press, Søro 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7
Individual evidence
- ^ Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay & Márton Hreblay: Noctuidae Europaeae Volume 4, Hadeninae I, Entomological Press, Søro 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7
- ^ 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 .
- ↑ a b Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . Volume 7, Nachtfalter V. Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3500-0
- ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9
Web links
- www.lepiforum.de Taxonomy and photos
- www.schmetterlinge-deutschlands.de Endangerment
- Hadena albimacula at Fauna Europaea