Nymphalis californica
Nymphalis californica
Nymphalis californica is a butterfly ( butterfly ) of the family Nymphalidae ( Nymphalidae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 32-70 millimeters. Both pairs of wings are serrated on the outer edge. You have on the top of a red-brown to orange color, which is darker towards the outside. They are also provided with some dark spots. The edge of wing is dark brown. The wing undersides are mottled in various shades of dark brown and show no white or silver-colored drawing elements.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa
The eggs have a yellow green color, a cylindrical shape and are coated with vertical ribs. They are stored in groups on the food plant.
Adults caterpillars show predominantly dark gray to black base tints and are provided with yellowish brown spots and thin yellow lines. Over the entire body white yellow and black spines are distributed.
The Stürzpuppe has an ash gray, dull orange or almost black color, shimmers sometimes slightly bluish and has two distinct horns on his head and a sharp hump on the back.
Similar Species
- The similar kind nymphalis vaualbum distinguished by white patches on both the front and on the rear upper wing surface and through a white, L -like character on the underside of the hind wing.
- The Great Eastern fox ( nymphalis xanthomelas ) and the Great Fox ( nymphalis polychloros ) occur only in European, Asian or North African region. Thus, there is no overlapping of the areas of distribution to nymphalis californica.
Distribution and habitat
Nymphalis californica preferably populated the western states of the U.S., especially California, which explains the name californica. As a migrant butterfly type also further east or northerly reaches sometimes areas. The animals are mainly found in forested terrain.
Way of life
The type usually forms from one generation per year and overwinters as moths. In California, but may be three or more generations occur each year. Main flight period are the months of May to July. If the butterflies are sitting at rest on the ground, they fold their wings like upright together. They then act like a withered leaf and are for predators hardly recognizable. For the intake of food, fluids and minerals they suck flowers, water points or extension. Younger caterpillars live sociable, older one. Do not hide in spun nests. As food crops in particular thrysiflorus Ceanothus, Ceanothus interrimus, velutinus Ceanothus, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus fendleri Ceanothus sanguineus and Ceanothus cuneatus be coffers flower species ( Ceanothus ), called.
Migratory behavior
Years, it comes at irregular intervals to a considerable migratory behavior of moths. For example, a mass occurrence of the Santa Ana Mountains, together with the Painted Lady ( Vanessa cardui ) has been reported in the years 1941 and 1973.
Subspecies
The following sub- types can be distinguished:
- Nymphalis californica californica
- Nymphalis californica herni