Tetheella fluctuosa
Birch owls Spinner ( Tetheella fluctuosa )
The Birch owls Spinner ( Tetheella fluctuosa ) is a butterfly of the family of Sichelflügler ( Drepanidae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 35-38 millimeters. They have a relatively slender physique. The front wings are gray white and are marked by a thick dark horizontal band. The hind wings are in turn white and have gray bands.
The caterpillars are gray -green or beige - gray. On the bottom they are lighter. They are speckled with small white spots everywhere and on the sides of the back with larger black dots.
Occurrence
The Birch owls spinners are particularly in central Europe, to meet the southern parts of Scandinavia and the British Isles. To the east they appear to Japan. Your preferred habitat are clear birch forests in the mild mountain location, from which their name says. But even in such forests adjoining moors, the butterflies feel comfortable.
Way of life
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from early June to early August. In favorable years, a second generation can form. The caterpillars are found from August to September.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on monophagous of birch (Betula ).
Development
The females lay their pale green eggs on the spines along the edge of the top of the birch leaves. The caterpillars live together between spun leaves and pupate in a cocoon on the ground or in the ground before they hibernate.