''Brahmaea'' (''Acanthobrahmaea'') ''europaea'', the European owl moth, is a

lepidopteran Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described specie ...

from the family Brahmaeidae, in the subgenus ''Acanthobrahmaea''.

Taxonomy

''B. europaea'' is the sole species in the genus '' Brahmaea'' in Europe. Most members of the genus are found in eastern Asia. The species can be identified by wing veins in adults and pupal dorsal spines on abdominal segments. The species was originally described as ''Acanthobrahmaea europaea'' in 1963, but '' Acanthobrahmaea'' later became a subgenus.

Distribution and habitat

The species can only be found in southern

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. Their habitat consists of broad leaf woods in mountainous areas at elevations of 200 to 800 metres, in semi-deciduous and undisturbed woodlands. Habitat fragmentation, light pollution, clearing of forest underbrush, and collection of rare species are likely factors affecting ''B. europaea'' distribution and abundance, and contribute to its current IUCN endangered status. Wild boar can also consume both host plants and pupae in the ground.

Life cycle

Adults fly from late March to early May. Adults are active after sunset and are cold-tolerant enough to be seen flying during snowfall. Adults lay eggs on the trunks of plants within

Oleaceae Oleaceae, also known as the olive family, is a taxonomic family of flowering shrubs, trees, and a few lianas in the order Lamiales, It presently comprises 28 genera, one of which is recently extinct.Peter S. Green. 2004. "Oleaceae". pages 2 ...

, including ''

Fraxinus angustifolia ''Fraxinus angustifolia'', the narrow-leaved ash, is a species of ''Fraxinus'' native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.Flora Europaea''Fraxinus angustifolia''/ref>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and E ...

'', '' Phyllirea latifolia'', and ''

Ligustrum vulgare ''Ligustrum vulgare'' (wild privet, also sometimes known as common privet or European privet) is a species of '' Ligustrum'' native to central and southern Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia, from Ireland and southwestern Sweden south to ...

'' in captivity. Eggs hatch at the end of March and April 12 to 15 days after oviposition. The larvae move to the top of the plant and move downwards as leaves are consumed. Larvae may move to other plants depending on size. Larvae undergo five

instar An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or ...

pupate A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...

on the ground where they overwinter, and emerge as adults the following spring.

References

External links

NHM
includes photo of the

pupa A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in thei ...

. Brahmaeidae Endemic fauna of Italy Moths described in 1963 Moths of Europe {{Bombycoidea-stub