Epicallia villica
Black Bear ( Arctia villica )
The Black Bear ( Arctia villica ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the subfamily of the tiger moths ( Arctiinae ).
- 2.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 45 to 60 millimeters. They have black forewings with white, broad spots, which can run into each other. Also, there are spots which are made very small. The orange hind wings have black spots. The caterpillars are black with medium length, not very dense growing light brown hair tufts. Her head and legs are red.
Similar Species
- Brown Bear ( Arctia caja )
- English Bear ( Arctia festiva )
Occurrence
The species is distributed from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula over Western and Southern Europe and the Black Sea region to Russia and the Middle East. In Southern and Central Europe one can find the butterfly in warm, sunny areas with bushes and hedges. In Germany the species is found only very locally to heat beneficiary agencies ( Hesse, Rhineland -Palatinate, Bavaria ( Danube slopes near Passau ) Saarland, Brandenburg ). In Austria in all heat- favored regions of Tyrol proven to Burgenland. In Upper Austria the species occurs only in insular fashion before, especially north of the Danube.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths of the Black bears can be observed from June to July. About the behavior of the caterpillars under farming conditions reported Ebert following: By the end of June / beginning of July, the caterpillars ate different herbs and grew it to about 10 - zoom 12 mm in length, then they made a Sommerdiapause ( absolutely dry attitude, no food intake, often 30 ° C day temperature ). From September (until October ) re- ingestion and at a size of about 20 mm winter diapause. From February / March then further breeding until pupation.
Way of life
The caterpillars overwinter, but they are relatively sensitive to frost. They pupate in May on the floor in a white-gray tissue. The caterpillars feed on a variety of low herbs:
- Dandelion (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia )
- Plantain ( Plantago )
- Deadnettles ( Lamium )
- Yarrow (Achillea )
- Blackberries (Rubus )
- Strawberries (Fragaria )
The moths are nocturnal, but females also fly in the day. They can be found resting on leaves where they fly up but after a short flight come back into the vegetation at faults. They are attracted by the light.
Threats and conservation
The Black Bear is listed in the Red List of Threatened Animals of Germany: 1 ( threatened with extinction ).