Conistra erythrocephala
Red- Wintereule ( Conistra erythrocephala )
The red-headed Wintereule ( Conistra erythrocephala ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). The species overwinters as moths and therefore is one of the so-called "Winter Owl ".
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Features
Butterfly
The moth has a wingspan of 32-42 mm. The Art is in two colors: the nominate form is reddish - gray to reddish yellow, the forma glabra Hübner referred specimens with reddish-brown forewings and gray yellow drawing. The veining is usually dusted bright. The drawing is most clearly seen and darker than the base color. The apex is blunt rounded, the outer margin slightly convex. Head and thorax are invariably reddish brown; the abdomen has lateral spots. The small ring stain and the large kidney blemish usually have a darker outer edge and an inner edge lighter. In the kidney flaw are almost always three, rarely four black points. Occasionally also occur specimens that have no points in the renal defect ( f impunctata winder ). At the front edge of a limited indistinct dark spot is formed within the shaft line. The hind wings are dark gray-brown with a diffuse Diskalfleck.
Egg, caterpillar and chrysalis
The hemispherical egg is initially light yellow; it is pink later. The outside has strong, slightly wavy stripes. The caterpillar is gray-brown to yellow-brown with narrow, bright line of the back and bright addition to ridge lines. Head and pronotum are black brown; the pronotum is staffed with three light stripes, the middle stripe is only weakly developed. The spiracles are black with a gray border. The approach of the bristles is bright border. The squat doll is reddish brown with a short, conical cremaster. This is manned by a few, very short bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species occurs from North Africa (Morocco and Algeria ) and Spain in the west, across southern and central Europe to Turkey, Southern Russia and the Caucasus. They probably also occurs in Iraq and Jordan. In the north, the Baltic countries and across is the limit of distribution in southern England, Denmark, in the southern Fennoscandia, through Russia to the Urals Mountains. The species inhabits rich oak hardwood forests of the plain and the hill country, especially forest edges, clearings, slash-and- Wind fracture surfaces and Gebüschsäume with young oak stands. In Central Europe, it comes to about 500 m altitude before. The species is therefore only represented locally in these habitats may well be more frequent. In Baden- Württemberg the nature extends its area currently strong again from after the stocks were up about fell sharply in the second half of the 20th century.
Phenology and life
The species forms from one generation per year. The moths emerge in September, the autumnal main flight time is in October and November. Then the moths keep a winter break, which is on warm winter days also interrupted. The moths fly again from February onwards. The main flight period is March and April, some moths also still flying in May. The moths have to take according to their long life food. In the fall they were observed at late flowering plants (eg buddleia ( Buddleja davidi ) ). In the spring they are on Goat Willow (Salix caprea ) and thick leaf Bergenia ( Bergenia crassifolia ) have been observed. The moths are nocturnal and occasionally come to light, happy and in great numbers to the bait. Mating occurs only in the spring. The eggs are apparently preferably stored in oak buds. The caterpillars are found in May and June. Buds and leaves of oak (Quercus sp.) Seem to be the staple diet, although in the literature also hornbeam (Carpinus ) and elm (Ulmus ) are called. The adult caterpillars move to the herb layer over and eat there Labkräuter ( Galium ), Plantain ( Plantago ) and dandelion (Taraxacum ) ( Taraxacum ). However, the latter figures are from captive observations.
System
The species was described in 1775 by Michael Denis Johann Ignaz and Schiffermueller as Noctua erythrocephala first time scientifically. The authors also described it under the name Noctua glabra, which only came later as the coloring variant (now forma glabra). Conista erythrocephala was once common to the genus Dasycampa Guenée 1837 asked before this genus was synonymized with Conistra. Today Dasycampa is used by some authors as a subgenus of Conistra; The species is of Ronkay et al. as Conistra ( Dasycampa ) erythrocephala out.
Endangering
The species is regarded in Germany as a whole is not compromised. However, the situation from state to state is very different. But this is also due to the fact that the species was only regionally quite frequently. In Saarland, and in Hamburg, she is extinct. In North Rhine -Westphalia, Saxony- Anhalt and Thuringia, it is " at high risk (category 2) ," in Lower Saxony " endangered ( category 3) ." In Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania and Rhineland -Palatinate it is considered as a sort of " early warning level (category 4) ."