Buff Arches
Agate Owl Moth ( Habrosyne pyritoides )
The agate Owls Spinner ( Habrosyne pyritoides ) 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 to 40 millimeters. Your front wing lift and a typical variable little olive, brown, white and yellow color, reminiscent of polished agate. You have three white stripes around the wings edges that surround an orange- brown and white patterned triangle. Their hind wings are gray-brown and somewhat brighter in the middle.
The caterpillars are about 40 mm long. The young are dark brown to gray- brown are clearly spotted when the old caterpillars. These are reddish brown and wear a narrow dark dorsal line with indistinct bright side spots. They have white spots, which become smaller towards the rear or only one such spot on the first abdominal segment at the sides of the three anterior abdominal segments.
Occurrence
The animals come in Europe, except in the far north and in parts of the Mediterranean region, east to Japan frequently and are widespread. They live in deciduous and coniferous forests with large stocks of their food plants, but also in gardens and parks.
Way of life
The Agate Owl Spinner are nocturnal and are in the behavior and appearance of the Peach Blossom ( Thyatira batis ) is similar. You like to fly to artificial light sources.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from late May to early August. The caterpillars are found from August to early September.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars eat the leaves of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus ) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus ), rarely also of hazel (Corylus ') and hawthorns (Crataegus ).
Development
The females lay their eggs in groups at the edge or directly on the jagged edges of the leaves of forage plants. The caterpillars are also nocturnal and hide during the day under leaves on the ground. They pupate between leaves spun together in a light, brown cocoon and overwinter before they hatch. Rarely, the moths emerge even in late summer.