Ophiusa tirhaca (Cramer, 1777)


Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Adult (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Egg on rind (La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Young larva on soft leaf (La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Young larva on soft leaf (La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Young larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Young larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Half-grown larva (La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Half-grown larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Half-grown larva (La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Head of a half-grown larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larva (e.l. La Gomera, December 2011) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: Fresh pupa (e.l. La Gomera 2013) [S] Ophiusa tirhaca: The larvae prefer soft shoots (La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: In La Gomera, the species uses especially bushes and trees of Pistacia atlantica as a larval habitat , if they show young shoots (February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: On this small Pistacia atlantica tree I observed eggs (trunk) and more than 20 larvae of all instars (often parasitized, La Gomera, February 2013) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larval habitat with Pistacia atlantica in the south of La Gomera (December 2011) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Larval habitat with Pistacia atlantica in the south of La Gomera (December 2011) [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Pistacia atlantica, important host plant in La Gomera (February 2013). [N] Ophiusa tirhaca: Surrounding of the larval habitat with Pistacia atlantica (La Gomera, February 2013) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar can be found on Anacardiaceae and Myrtaceae, for example on Pistacia atlantica.

Habitat:
Ophiusa tirhaca can reproduce in many subtropical to tropical habitat types. In the Mediterranean region it is common in the hard-leaf woodlands and their degeneration stages such as garrigues.

Life cycle:
In the south Ophiusa tirhaca can be observed all the year. In the Mediterranean region there are usually several generations between March and October. Oviposition takes place singly on the trunks and older stems of the plants. The young larvae search for soft, young shoots where they feed on the youngest leaves. The older larvae live partly very cryptically as it is the case with Catocala species: they hide well camouflaged on twigs and stems. But in February 2013, I observed several older larvae in the sunshine on the tips of shoots (La Gomera).

Remarks:
Ophiusa tirhaca is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. In Europe it penetrates to the north as far as Lake Garda. Further north there are only rare vagrants.


German version / deutsche Version