''Brahmaea'' (''Acanthobrahmaea'') ''europaea'', the European owl moth, is a
lepidopteran from the family
Brahmaeidae
Brahmaeidae is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are ...
, in the subgenus ''Acanthobrahmaea''.
Taxonomy
''B. europaea'' is the sole species in the genus ''
Brahmaea
''Brahmaea'' is a genus of moths of the family Brahmaeidae. ''Acanthobrahmaea'', ''Brahmidia'', and ''Brachygnatha'' are synonyms. ''Acanthobrahmaea'' has sometimes been considered a subgenus, describing an endemic relict species that only occurs ...
'' 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
''Brahmaea'' is a genus of moths of the family Brahmaeidae. ''Acanthobrahmaea'', ''Brahmidia'', and ''Brachygnatha'' are synonyms. ''Acanthobrahmaea'' has sometimes been considered a subgenus, describing an endemic relict species that only occurs ...
'' later became a subgenus.
Distribution and habitat
The species can only be found in southern
Italy. 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
Habitat fragmentation describes the emergence of discontinuities (fragmentation) in an organism's preferred environment (habitat), causing population fragmentation and ecosystem decay. Causes of habitat fragmentation include geological processes ...
, 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
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
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, 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'' in captivity.
Eggs hatch at the end of March and April 12 to 15 days after
oviposition
The ovipositor is a tube-like organ used by some animals, especially insects, for the laying of eggs. In insects, an ovipositor consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages. The details and morphology of the ovipositor vary, but typical ...
. 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
instars,
pupate on the ground where they overwinter, and emerge as adults the following spring.
References
External links
NHMincludes photo of the
pupa.
Brahmaeidae
Endemic fauna of Italy
Moths described in 1963
Moths of Europe
{{Bombycoidea-stub