Onion borer

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Onion borer
Onion borer (Dyspessa ulula), male

Onion borer ( Dyspessa ulula ), male

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Wood drill (Cossidae)
Subfamily : Cossinae
Genre : Dyspessa
Type : Onion borer
Scientific name
Dyspessa ulula
( Borkhausen , 1790)

The onion drills ( Dyspessa ulula ), and spring onion drills , leeks drill or owl called, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the wood drill (Cossidae).

features

butterfly

Both sexes are of similar size. The wingspan of the female butterflies is 18 to 25 millimeters, that of the males 19 to 26 millimeters. The color of the forewings varies from yellow-gray to yellow-brown. On the forewings, whitish spots of varying degrees can be seen. The apex is relatively pointed, the fringes are piebald. The hind wings are almost unmarked light ocher to yellow-gray or brownish in color. The antennae of the males are briefly double comb-toothed, those of the females are thickened and very short, comb-toothed. Thorax and abdomen are shaggy yellow-brown with whitish hairs. The females have a slightly longer abdomen with a protruding laying tube .

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The egg has a barrel-like shape, is rounded at the ends and has a reddish color.

Adult caterpillars have a flesh-colored sheen. The head is brownish. There are short, very thin, light-colored bristles on all segments.

The doll is equipped with several spikes on the back.

Similar species

Dyspessa kabylaria differs in its much more strongly combed antennae.

Geographical distribution and occurrence

The onion borer is locally widespread in central and southern Europe. In the east the distribution area extends through Russia to Central Asia. It is also found in Syria , Iran , Iraq and some areas of North Africa . In the mountains it was detected at an altitude of 1900 meters. The species prefers to colonize sandy fields and steppe heaths.

Way of life

The male moths fly mainly in the morning in the sunshine or in the late evening in search of the females sitting on the ground. Occasionally they also appear in artificial light sources . The main flight time of the univoltine kind are the months April to July. The caterpillars eat various types of leek ( Allium ), for example yellow leek ( Allium flavum ), vineyard leek ( Allium vienale ), ball-headed leek ( Allium spaerocephalon ) or garlic ( Allium sativum ). They live in the onions. The development of the caterpillars takes several years.

Danger

In Germany the onion borer occurs only in a few regions. The species is classified in category 2 (critically endangered) on the Red List of Threatened Species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Josef J. de Freina: Cossoidea, Hepialoidea, Pyraloidea, Zygaenoidea . In: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the Western Palaearctic . 1st edition. tape 2 . EFW Edition Research & Science, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-926285-02-8 .
  2. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 3: Weirdos and Swarmers. (Bombyces and Sphinges). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1960, DNB 456642196 .
  3. ↑ www.floraweb.de
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • Josef J. de Freina: Cossoidea, Hepialoidea, Pyraloidea, Zygaenoidea . In: The Bombyces and Sphinges of the Western Palaearctic . 1st edition. tape 2 . EFW Edition Research & Science, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-926285-02-8 .

Web links

Commons : Onion Borer  - Collection of images, videos and audio files