Figure of Eighty
Eyes Owl Moth ( Tethea ocularis )
The Eyes Owl Moth ( Tethea ocularis ) is a butterfly of the family of Sichelflügler ( Drepanidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 32-38 millimeters. They have gray-brown or gray-black forewings, which in the middle of a wide bright transverse fascia. This is surrounded on both sides by two thin black transverse bands. In the bright transverse fascia can be found at the edge of a round and an "8" similarly sighted a bright spot with a dark core.
The caterpillars are about 40 mm long. You are at the age whitish- green with a brown head, which is flattened. They have a very faint dark markings and the first segment on the side of a black dot. The young caterpillars have a more pronounced dark markings.
Similar Species
- Poplar owls Spinner ( Tethea or)
Occurrence
They come in south and central Europe east to Japan before in warm and moist deciduous forests of poplar populations, particularly in lowland forests, stream and river valleys but also in parks. They are missing in the north of Scandinavia and the UK. The species is quite sensitive to ecological point of view and makes high demands on the ecosystem. Therefore, their presence will be reduced quite locally and on diverse biological communities with low-intensity farming systems.
Way of life
The animals are nocturnal and can be easily lure after midnight by artificial light.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in two generations from early May to early July and from mid-July to mid-August. The caterpillars from the eggs of the first generation can be found from August to September, the second from July to September of next year.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of aspen (Populus tremula ) and other species of poplar (Populus ).
Development
The females lay their eggs in small groups on leaves. You cover it and the surrounding surface of the leaf with dandruff. The nocturnal caterpillars hide during the day between two inter- spun leaves. They pupate on the ground between dry leaves in a loose cocoon and hatch until after the winter.