Zygaena purpuralis
Thyme burnet, Switzerland, Valais, Saas Fee, 2300, the beginning of September
The thyme Burnet ( Zygaena purpuralis ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of burnet ( Zygaenidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 3.3 Development
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 28 to 35 millimeters. The forewings have three wide, longitudinal red stripes of which the Middle, who pointed to the wing tip is widened beilförmig at the end. The sensors have a thick blunt lobe at the end. The females have a white ruff, the color of the ribbons can be changed from a bright red to a yellowish orange. The species can ( Zygaena minos ) can be distinguished only by a genital examination by Burnet Burnet.
The 27 to 29 millimeters long caterpillars are yellowish-gray, olive-green or brownish. You have on each segment oberseits front side and a yellow at the center back a black dot. On the sides of said body, a number of small black dots.
Similar Species
- Burnet Burnet ( Zygaena minos )
Occurrence
They come in southern and central Europe east to the Altai and in the UK, especially in the mountains to over 2,000 meters on calcareous grasslands, sandy soils and other warm and sunny places before. You are in southern and central Germany in places, very often, in the north rather rare. Their occurrence has declined sharply.
Way of life
The moths are found in smaller groups on flowers. They prefer mainly purple flowers such as Marsh, ( Scabiosa ), Zieste ( Stachys ) and (Echium ), but also on the yellow flowers of herbs Greis ( Senecio ) to find.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from mid-June to August. The caterpillars can be found in August and after hibernation until June.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly by Wilder thyme (Thymus serpyllum ) but also from other Thymianen. This Widderchenart is the only one in Europe, the caterpillars neither Fabaceae ( Faboideae ) still eat Umbelliferae ( Apiaceae ).
Development
The females lay their yellow eggs in piles on the bottom of the thyme leaves. After about nine days the caterpillars hatch. They live near the ground and climb in the evening not to the food crops up. Pupation takes place in a boat- shaped cocoon on the ground. This is yellow to brown, sometimes sulfur- yellow, rarely white. The cocoons of Zygaena minos are against dirty - white. The doll itself is black brown. After 18 to 20 days slips of the moths.
System
The two types Zygaena purpuralis and Zygaena minos is called because of their similarity as purpuralis complex. Both types can be unambiguously separated from one another by examining the genitals, while a habitual distinction in the field is not possible. In addition, both types at many localities often occur at the same time.
Threats and conservation
- Red List BRD: 3 (endangered ).