Odonestis
Plum mother hen ( Odonestis pruni )
The plum hen ( Odonestis pruni ), sometimes referred to as fire hen, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of hens ( Lasiocampidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
Imago
The moths reach a wingspan of 35 to 50 millimeters. The wings are of strong red-brown, sometimes almost fiery red color. This makes the butterfly along with the white center spot and the distinctive dark lateral line on the fore wings unmistakable. The outer edges are jagged and run in a sharp tip. The sensors are combed long in the male, the female with short comb teeth. The palps are long and pointed, the body densely hairy woolly.
Egg
The egg is round, white and have a dark- green center.
Caterpillar
The young caterpillar is initially dark gray with whitish spots back. The adult caterpillar is hairy bluish gray and thin. On the second segment has a distinct reddish-yellow spot back. The head is gray-brown with a yellowish red drawing.
Doll
The doll is slender, black-brown, short brown haired, bright segment has several cuts and a rounded cremaster.
Occurrence
The species is widespread in Europe, but is absent in Norway, Sweden and the UK. It prefers sunny slopes, orchards, gardens and mixed forests.
Way of life
The moths are nocturnal. The caterpillars live in August and hibernate. They like to nestle close to branches and are therefore hardly be distinguished from them. Pupation takes place in a soft yellowish tissue in crotches or cracks in the bark.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in most regions in a generation from mid-June to early August. The caterpillars can be found in August and after hibernation until June of the following year. In warm, southern regions and a second generation may occur, the moths are smaller and lighter than the normal form. The corresponding flight times are then: May / June for the first and August / September for the second generation.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs, such as Plums, cherries, pears, blackthorn, alder, birch, oak, lime, hazel and sallow.
Threats and conservation
In Germany the plum hen by category 2 ( high risk ) is protected. However, the occurrence in the individual federal states is quite different.