Neptis rivularis
Black mourning butterfly ( Neptis rivularis )
The black mourning butterfly ( Neptis rivularis ) is a butterfly ( butterfly ) of the family Nymphalidae ( Nymphalidae ).
- 5.1 food of the caterpillars
- 5.2 Flight times and caterpillars
- 7.1 Notes and references
- 7.2 Literature
Features
Imago
The moths reach a wingspan of 45 to 55 millimeters. The upper wing surface of the forewings is black or dark brown colored with a binding of white spots. One or more small white spots also can be found between the bond and the wing root. The outermost edge of wing is narrow and white in color. The underside is rusty brown and otherwise shows the same white drawings as the top. The upper wing surface of the hind wings is black or dark brown colored, externally lined white with a semi-circular, wide, white napkin, which is broken only by the dark veins. The underside is rusty brown, and shows the white markings of the upper side, with the white band is outlined in black.
Egg
The eggs of the black mourning moth have a thimble- shaped appearance.
Caterpillar
The caterpillar is brownish in color, has an indistinct bright topline and several humps. There are dark brown slashes that are bright -rimmed, and a yellowish longitudinal line on the sides.
Doll
The doll is usually colored light brown, squat, lateral spreading, whereby the later wings emerge clearly. At the front end there are two small peaks.
Synonyms
- ( Neptis lucilla Denis & Schiffer Müller 1775)
Similar Species
- Southern White Admiral ( Limenitis reducta )
- White Admiral ( Limenitis camilla )
- Black Brown mourning butterfly ( Neptis sappho )
Occurrence
The black mourning moth comes in central Europe in the eastern Alps, parts of southern Switzerland, Austria and further to the southeast, where the habitat is extensive, such as in Romania and Hungary, which also led to the English name Hungarian Glider. The further spread extends across Russia and China to Japan. The species prefers to live in light deciduous forests and ravines, but also in parks and garden areas before they come.
Way of life
The moths rarely suck on flowers, but primarily on moist soil bodies and excrement. They fly slowly and floating. The females lay eggs singly on the leaves of forage plants. The young caterpillars eat the leaves from the blade tip her. During the resting phase the caterpillar hiding during the summer to protect in a rolled leaf. For winter care is a firmer Hibernarium - a housing made of dead leaves and filaments - created. The doll hangs as Stürzpuppe to branches of the food plant.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on the leaves of wild - goat's beard ( Aruncus dioicus ), skipjack or meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ) and various types of Spier shrubs ( Spiraea ).
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in a generations mainly in June and July. The caterpillars can be found in August and after hibernation until May of the following year.
Threats and conservation
The species is on the Red List of endangered animals in Austria Category 3 (endangered ).