Willow-leaf owl

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Willow-leaf owl
Ipimorpha retusa.jpg

Willow-leaf owl ( ipimorpha retusa )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Xyleninae
Genre : Ipimorpha
Type : Willow-leaf owl
Scientific name
Ipimorpha retusa
( Linnaeus , 1761)

The willow-leaf owl ( Ipimorpha retusa ), also called willow-leaf owl , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 28 to 32 millimeters. The basic color of the forewings varies from red-brown to dark brown. The pointed apex and the indentation below it on the hem are typical of the species . The outer and inner transverse lines are almost parallel and straight. They are laid out brightly. The wavy line is strongly jagged, sometimes indistinct. Kidney and ring flaws are large, slightly darkened and outlined in a thin white-yellow. Tenon flaws are missing. The hind wings are gray-brown, without drawing, and somewhat lightened at the roots. The proboscis of the moths is well developed. The antennae of the males are ciliate, those of the females are thread-like. The thorax is provided with a distinct, comb-shaped tuft of hair.

Caterpillar, pupa

Younger caterpillars have a greenish color and are provided with whitish back and side back lines as well as side stripes of the same color. The head is black in color. In the adult animals the head is greenish. The other drawing elements correspond to those of the young caterpillars.

The doll is red-brown in color and shows two outwardly curved thorns on the cremaster .

Similar species

In the butterflies of the similarly drawn poplar leaf owl ( Ipimorpha subtusa ), the indentation below the apex on the edge of the forewings is missing or is only very weak. They also have lightly edged cone flaws.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The willow-leaf owl is common in almost all of Europe. To the east, the distribution area extends over Turkey , Siberia , Mongolia and China to Korea and Japan . In the Alps it rises to heights of 1,600 meters. The animals are mainly to be found in boggy areas, swamp forests as well as on marshy meadow edges and bank areas.

Way of life

The main flight time for the nocturnal moths is from July to September. You will visit bait and sometimes artificial light sources . The main food plants for the caterpillars, which live mainly from May to June, are willow ( Salix ) and poplar species ( Populus ), with bushes being preferred. They usually live socially and like to spin between the leaves of young shoots. Pupation takes place in a web in the ground or between leaves. The egg is hibernating.

Danger

The willow-leaf owl is not uncommon in most German federal states and is not endangered according to the Red List .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Michael Fibiger, Hermann Hacker: Amphipyrinae, Condicinae, Eriopinae, Xyleninae (part) . In: Michael Fibiger, László Ronkay, Barry Goater, Martin Honey (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 9 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2007, ISBN 978-87-89430-11-9 (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. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • Michael Fibiger, Hermann Hacker: Amphipyrinae, Condicinae, Eriopinae, Xyleninae (part) . In: Michael Fibiger, László Ronkay, Barry Goater, Martin Honey (eds.): Noctuidae Europaeae . tape 9 . Entomological Press, Sorø 2007, ISBN 978-87-89430-11-9 (English).
  • 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 .
  • Manfred Koch : We determine butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .

Web links

Commons : Willow Bush-Leaf Owl  - Collection of images, videos and audio files