Common Quaker
Around Wing Kätzcheneule ( Orthosia cerasi )
The rotary wing Kätzcheneule ( Orthosia ( Monima ) cerasi ) (formerly O. stabilis ), also called Common Kätzcheneule, Red yellow Frühlingseule and common Frühlingseule, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ).
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
The rotary wing Kätzcheneule is a medium sized owl moth with a wingspan 34-40 mm. Their front wings are colored highly variable and vary from light beige to brown after cinnamon and brown. In contrast, the drawing is not very variable. It consists mainly of the bright rim of the conspicuous large ring and kidney blemish and bright, inside often darker -scale, almost straight shaft line. The inner and outer cross- line are often as a series of black dots, but occasionally also formed as a continuous black jagged line. The outer transverse line is strongly curved near the leading edge. Zapf flaw is sometimes lacking or is very indistinct, ring and kidney flaw can also be joined together. The basal transverse line is indicated by a few black dots. An indistinct shadow agent is sometimes available. Often the wires in Saumfeld are lighter than the base color. The antennae of the males are in contrast to the filamentous females combed short. The apex of the forewing is only slightly pointed. The hind wings are uniformly brown to yellow- brown with yellowish brown fringe.
The yellowish-white egg is hemispherical with a strongly flattened base. The base is ribbed and slightly greenish, the central zone and the binding carmine.
The caterpillars are about 40 mm long. They are green, have on the whole body small, yellow spots and fine, yellowish sides and back lines. At the 11th segment is a wide yellow stripes. The head is greenish with dark spots.
The pupa is reddish brown and squat. The blunt cremaster is staffed with four in the male, the female with two diverging bristles.
Similar Species
The rotary wing Kätzcheneule closely resembles the pointed wing Kätzcheneule ( Orthosia gracilis ). The apex of the forewing of the latter species has slightly more pointed ( hence the name ). The flaws are in Orthosia cerasi on average slightly larger. Orthosia gracilis is slightly larger than the average Orthosia cerasi.
Orthosia dalmatica is also difficult to distinguish from Orthosia cerasi. However, the range of the species is limited to the Dalmatian coast region, Montenegro, Albania, Northern Greece, Macedonia and southern Bulgaria and can at least not in Central Europe to be confused with Orthosia cerasi. Orthosia cerasi is lighter, has lighter hind wings and less going into the red forewing. A clear distinction is possible only through an examination of the male or female genitalia.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is virtually spread throughout the Western Palearctic ( with the exception of northern Fennoscandia and northern Russia). In the east, the range extends to the Middle East, Asia Minor and the Caucasus region.
The species inhabited bushes, hedges and forest edges, but also marshes, gardens and parks, and is ( with the exception of pure pine forests ) can be found in virtually all types of forests. In the Alps, it rises to 2000 m above sea level to you is one of the most common native species Orthosia.
Way of life
The rotary wing Kätzcheneule is univoltine, that is, it is formed only one generation per year. The moths appear in late February / early March. Depending on the weather in spring can slip earlier single butterfly; moths were already found in October). The flight time is depending on the altitude until May or June. The nocturnal moths usually already flying at dusk. They are often numerous nectar eyes on pussy-willow or early flowering shrubs such as Find cornel (Cornus mas ), or to expiring tree sap. They are strongly attracted to artificial light sources and come to the bait. The eggs are deposited side by side in small groups of ± 20 eggs close to the underside of leaves of the caterpillar food plants. The caterpillars are held from May to June. They feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees and shrubs, such as Quaking Aspen (Populus tremula ), goat willow (Salix caprea ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus robur), black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and others. The caterpillars pupate in a burrow, hibernate the dolls.