Eutricha capensis
Caterpillar of Eutricha capensis
Eutricha capensis (English: Cape lappet moth ) is a butterfly of the family of hens ( Lasiocampidae ), which is widespread in South Africa. The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plant species and are often found in gardens.
Features
The moths have a wingspan of about 70 millimeters. The fore wings are reddish brown and have yellow spots and three wavy white stripes, which are towards the wing tip longer. The hind wings are also reddish brown. The larger females are usually paler in color than the males.
The caterpillars, typical of the genus Eutricha, a black, white laterally edged, spiked spine strip. On the sides they each carry a number tufts with long, copper-colored hair. Near the head, there are three and two reddish mauve tufts.
Occurrence
The species is widespread in South Africa, but is also found in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Be colonized a number of natural habitats, but also gardens.
Way of life
The moths appear in early summer. In case of failure, they behave very passive. The caterpillars live together in large groups to tribes. Unlike suspected for some time, the aggregation behavior of the caterpillars has, according to a 2013 study published no advantage in relation to their water and energy budget, which partially unfavorable fails even compared to solitary animals. However, benefits such as better protection from predators and faster growth rates outweigh these effects significantly.
Food of the caterpillars
As a food plant for the caterpillars of the following plant species have been Acacia cyclops, A. mearnsii, willow leaf - acacia ( A. saligna ), A. karroo, Bauhinien ( Bauhinia ), Celtis africana, Chrysanthemoides monilifera, C. incana, Monterey cypress ( Cupressus macrocarpa), Combretum molle, Eucalyptus macarthurii, E. paniculata, Euclea racemosa, mango ( Mangifera indica), Pinus patula, Monterey pine (Pinus radiata ), P. elliottii, Montezuma pine ( Pinus montezumae ), poplar (Populus ), apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ), peach (Prunus persica ), Rhus lancea, Peruvian pepper tree ( Schinus molle ), Brazilian pepper tree ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), Pink banksiae and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum).
System
Eutricha capensis was described in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus in the first volume of the 12th edition of Systema Naturae. How many moths described by him, he classified E. capensis in the now obsolete genus Phalaena. The epithet capensis refers to the spread in South Africa's Western Cape province.
Synonyms are:
- Phalaena capensis Linnaeus, 1767
- Phalaena pithyocampa Stoll, 1780
- Eutricha aluco Fabricius, 1781
- Eutricha pithyocampa Stoll, 1781