Atolmis rubricollis

Rotkragen Braid Little Bear ( Atolmis rubricollis )

The Rotkragen Braid Little Bear ( Atolmis rubricollis ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the subfamily of the tiger moths ( Arctiinae ).

• 5.1 Literature

Features

The moths have a wingspan of 25 to 35 millimeters. You have all-black wings and legs, the body is apart from a bright red to orange collar on the thorax also black, only the abdomen is yellow-orange colored to orange.

The caterpillars are about 27 mm long. They have a dark gray base color and marbled yellowish-white. On each segment there are six red-colored warts point from which tufts of hair growing. On the black head capsule two oblique white stripes are conspicuous.

Occurrence

They come in all of Europe east to the Amur in mixed and coniferous forests, in places, especially in the latter quite often. They prefer humid, cool stream valleys in mountainous location and live on spruce but also on copper beeches, oaks and pines.

Way of life

The animals are nocturnal, but also fly in the day.

Flight times and caterpillars

The moths fly from May to July and the caterpillars are found from August to September.

Food of the caterpillars

The caterpillars feed on lichens that grow on deciduous and coniferous trees, such as from the ordinary Gelbflechte ( Xanthoria parietina ).

Development

The females lay their eggs in groups of from branches. Occasionally, one can observe outbreaks. The caterpillars overwinter as hidden doll in a brown-gray cocoon under moss.

Swell