Two-spotted plump owl

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Two-spotted plump owl
Two-spotted plump owl (Meganephria bimaculosa)

Two-spotted plump owl ( Meganephria bimaculosa )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Psaphidinae
Genre : Meganephria
Type : Two-spotted plump owl
Scientific name
Meganephria bimaculosa
( Linnaeus , 1767)

The meganephria bimaculosa ( Meganephria bimaculosa ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of cutworms (Noctuidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 45 to 60 millimeters. The color of the forewing upper side is predominantly white-gray to light gray and shows some brownish interferences. The transverse lines are indistinct. The flaws stand out very much. The kidney flaw is lightened white and bordered with red-brown lines. There are black arrow marks on the hem. Typical of the species are two dark spots in the middle and at the anal angle on the light gray-brown upper side of the hind wing, which are also responsible for the name of the species ( bimaculosa = the two-spotted).

egg

The cone-shaped egg has a flattened tip and a few, but very strong, longitudinal ribs. It is reddish yellow in color and has strong carmine-red spots between the white longitudinal ribs.

Caterpillar

The fully grown caterpillars are brown-gray in color and look like a piece of tree bark. There is a pair of short points on the eleventh segment. The topline and side stripes sometimes stand out a little lighter. From the fourth segment onwards, an open, dark brown angular drawing can be seen.

Similar species

The moths of Meganephria kononenkoi and Meganephria weixleri have a similar forewing pattern , but both lack the dark spots on the hind wings.

distribution and habitat

The distribution area of ​​the two-spotted plump-owl stretches patchy through southern regions of Central Europe to Turkey and western Iran . The subspecies Meganephria bimaculosa pontica occurs in Anatolia . The species' preferred habitat are open, dry forests, gardens and parklands.

Way of life

The moths fly in one generation per year. The main flight time is from August to November. They are nocturnal and visit artificial light sources as well as bait . Elm ( Ulmus ) and Prunus species are given as food plants for caterpillars living in April and May . The species overwinters as an egg.

Danger

The two-spotted plump owl occurs only very locally in Germany, is listed on the Red List of Threatened Species as “threatened with extinction” (Category 1) and is largely considered to be extinct or lost, including in the Upper Rhine Plain .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela & Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II In: Michael Fibiger & Martin Honey (Eds.): "Noctuidae Europaeae", Volume 5, Entomological Press, Sorø 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9
  2. ^ Arnold Spuler: The butterflies of Europe , Volume 1, E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart (E. Nägele), 1908
  3. ↑ a b c Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 4: Owls. (Noctuidae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-440-03752-5 .
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .
  5. ↑ Günter Ebert (Ed.): The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg, Volume 6, Nachtfalter IV. , Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-8001-3482-9

literature

  • Lázló Ronkay, José Luis Yela & Márton Hreblay: Hadeninae II In: Michael Fibiger & Martin Honey (Eds.): "Noctuidae Europaeae", Volume 5, Entomological Press, Sorø 2001, ISBN 87-89430-06-9
  • Manfred Koch : We determine butterflies. Volume 3: Owls. 2nd, expanded edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1972, DNB 760072930 .

Web links

Commons : Two-Spotted Plump Owl  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files