Dysauxes ancilla
Brown -spot burnet ( Dysauxes ancilla )
The brown -spot burnet or maid ( ancilla Dysauxes ) is a moth of the subfamily of the tiger moths ( Arctiinae ).
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 22 to 25 millimeters. You have ocher- brown forewings sit on its rear third of two or three white larger and a small white dot. The hind wings of males are also ocher-brown, with the females they are yellow and have a brown border. They also standing with them in the rest position a little under the front wings alongside the body out, which is of the wings not completely covered. In the males, the forewings cover both the rear, as well as the body. The antennae of the males and the females are thready.
The egg is hemispherical, flattened at the bottom. It is bright yellow in color with a glossy finish.
The caterpillars are dark purple with black, brown hairy bristles. Side strips and side back line are bright yellow. The black- brown head is relatively small.
The pupa is brown and is provided on the back tight with short hair. The end is bluntly rounded.
Similar Species
- Hyaline Braunwidderchen ( Dysauxes famula )
Geographical distribution and habitat
They come in Southern and Central Europe, east to the Urals before. They live in dry and warm ( xerotherm ) areas, such as rocky, sunny lean lawn and bushes with Kalkhängen but also vineyards and quarries.
Way of life
The brown -spot Burnet is in the northern part of the range one generation per year, flying moths whose July-August. In climatically favored areas, such as the Southern Alps, a second generation is presumably formed. They are nocturnal, but also fly in the late afternoon. They are attracted to the artificial light sources.
The caterpillars feed primarily on lichens and mosses but also of various herbs such as:
- Dandelion ( Taraxacum spp.)
- Greis herbs ( Senecio spp.)
- Plantain ( Plantago spp.)
- Lettuce (Lactuca spp.)
The caterpillars overwinter and pupate in June in a slight cocoon.