Large Tortoiseshell
Big Fox ( nymphalis polychloros )
The Great Fox ( nymphalis polychloros ) is a butterfly ( butterfly ) of the family Nymphalidae ( Nymphalidae ).
- 3.1 food of the caterpillars
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Description
The moths reach a wingspan of 50 to 55 millimeters. You see the little fox ( Aglais urticae ) are very similar, but are slightly larger and duller colored in the colors. They have orange -colored, patterned with black, yellow and white upper wing. The edge of the hind wings is much weaker blue color, but also edged dark. The hind wings are almost evenly colored orange and each carry a black spot.
The caterpillars are about 45 mm long. They are dark gray, almost black in color and have the back and on the sides orange napkins. In addition, they also have orange -colored, branched spike excesses.
Similar Species
- Small Tortoiseshell ( Aglais urticae)
- Eastern Great Fox ( nymphalis xanthomelas )
- Nymphalis vaualbum
Occurrence
The animals come in North Africa, South and Central Europe, in Turkey, in southern Russia, in central and southern Urals, in Kazakhstan and in the Himalayan region. In Central Europe they come V.A. in the warmer regions before, but have become generally rare. In the Mediterranean region and the Southern Alps, however, they are still common. They live in open forests and their edges on verbuschtem dry grasslands and in orchards.
Way of life
The moths suck only rarely flowers but prefer leaving tree saps. But in the spring they often fly at flowering meadows. They are found often when they sunbathe with outstretched wings. The moths fly in Central Europe in one generation from late June to August in the south they fly in two. Overwintering butterflies fly right from March to April. The species often flies from the south as migrant moths to Central Europe.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on the leaves of willow (Salix caprea ), but also of leaves of quaking aspen (Populus tremula ), apple tree (Malus domestica), pear ( Pyrus communis ) and other deciduous tree species. The use of poison in the fruit tree care had a negative impact on the stock of species of moth.
Development
The females lay their eggs on the bark of thin twigs of their food plants. The caterpillars live socially, but eat a branch not completely shut off before changing to the next. They pupate and hatch before winter.
Threats and conservation
The Great Fox is threatened by intensifying activities in the agriculture and forestry, as these affect the habitats of the species considerably. So stands of fruit trees were destroyed by conversion to farmland or settlement systems, knocked out sallow, and increasingly used biocides in the fruit and horticulture. To protect the species, especially the caterpillars sociable occurring should not be fought. As the populations of the Great Fox declined sharply in recent decades, he is now listed as endangered ( 3) in the red list of endangered animals in Germany. Also in Austria is still very rare to find the kind, it is considered as a sensitive bioindicator. However, there have in recent years also contrary observations, again more frequent occurrence of the species, for example, in Upper Bavaria.