Chelis maculosa
Schwarzgefleckter Bear ( Chelis maculosa )
The Schwarzgefleckte bear or Fleckenbär ( Chelis maculosa ) is a moth of the subfamily of the tiger moths ( Arctiinae ).
- 4.1 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 32-34 millimeters. Their forewings are light brown and have triangular or quadrangular, but also roundish black spots. The wings of the females are colored darker. The points are generally arranged in three rows. The hind wings are dark pink and have, especially on the edge, larger black, something in gray solid stains. The also light brown fur around the head has three black longitudinal stripes, the middle one is much wider.
The caterpillars are about 25 mm long. They are gray or gray-brown and have a rust-brown longitudinal stripes on the back and on the sides the same color small spots. Her hair is gray, medium length and arranged in tufts.
Similar Species
- Swiss - Alpenbär ( Chelis simplonica )
- Southern Bear ( Cymbalophora pudica )
Habitat
They live in very warm, slightly overgrown, steppe- land and on sandy soil. They come mainly in Southeastern Europe to Hungary and in the Southern Alps frequently. In Germany they have disappeared in many places and only come more in Kyffhaeuser area and in front of Brandenburg. There they are also very rare in Valais in Switzerland. They fly depending inhabited altitude between June and August.
Way of life
The animals are nocturnal. They form one generation per year, in the warm, southern regions of two. In high altitudes of the Alps they take two years to develop. The males are easily lure with artificial light. The females are very sluggish and live mainly in the low vegetation, near its Schlup Fort.
The females leave their approximately 100 eggs fall from their resting place from. These form a heap on the ground. The caterpillars spend the day in the dense, ground-level vegetation and climb at night on their food plants. They overwinter before they pupate in a loose cocoon on the ground. The caterpillars skin at the back end of the very mobile, whitish doll hangs.
The larvae feed mainly on lady's bedstraw ( Galium verum) as well as other Labkräuter.