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Saturnia pyri; Giant Peacock Moth   

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Saturnia pyri
Saturnia pyri
Giant Peacock Moth
Photographer: Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

ID: 0000 0000 0221 1349 (2021-02-14)

Copyright © 2021 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

 
INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
  • date of photo  Aug 13, 2019
  • latitude 46.36064   longitude 13.70479     View on Google Maps.
  • location   Lower Trenta valley between villages Soča and Trenta, right bank of river Soča, near abandoned farm house Skokar, Trenta 2, East Julian Alps (Posočje, Slovenia)
  • order Lepidoptera
  • class Insecta
  • notes   Slo.: veliki nočni pavlinček, veliki pavlinec- Habitat: Overgrown former pasture, Corylus avellana, Juglans regia, Fagus sylvatica dominant; slightly inclined mountain slope, southeast aspect; calcareous, colluvial ground, half shade, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 575 m (1.890 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Comment: The butterfly Saturnia pyri is attractive because it is among the largest in Slovenia (up to 13 cm across the wings), but it is mostly in brown and gray shades. No vivid colors are displayed as in so many other butterflies. They would be anyhow meaningless since this species is a night butterfly. - However, with its caterpillar it is not so. Many caterpillars are beautifully colored, but probably no one reaches the Saturnia pyri. It is also among the largest one and can be up to 12 cm long and massive – quite a 'beast'! The caterpillar changes its color during its growth; at the beginning it is almost black, then green, then yellowish and before the pupation orange tinted. Most bizarre are its thorny glands and hairs. It feeds mostly on leaves of fruit trees but also of Juglans regia, Fagus sylvatica and Corylus avellana and other broadleaved trees. It can be found most often in orchards, however, spraying pesticides means death. Unfortunately, also the high, old fruit trees around farmhouses are becoming rarer and rarer today. Hence it is already a rare and highly endangered species and protected in many countries including Slovenia. - Enlisted in the Slovene Red List of rare and endangered species, marked by 'V' representing a vulnerable species. - Ref.: (1) Species found by Mr. Marko Sovre, Ljubljana. (2) Fauna Europas, Bestimmungslexikon, George Westermann Velag, Brounschweig (1997), translated to Slovenian, Mladinaka Knjiga, Ljubljana (1981), p 400. (3) http://www.pyrgus.de/Saturnia_pyri_en.html (accessed Feb.12. 2021)
  • camera   Sony ILCE6000 / Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 16-70 mm/f4
  • contributor's ID #  Bot_1244/2019_DSC00463
  • photo category: Animal - Invertebrate-Insect

  • MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ANIMAL
  • common names   Giant Peacock Moth, Great Peacock Moth, Giant Emperor Moth (photographer)
  • View all photos in CalPhotos of Saturnia pyri
  • Check Google Images for Saturnia pyri


  • The photographer's identification Saturnia pyri has not been reviewed. Click here to review or comment on the identification.

     
    Using this photo   The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2021 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy. For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy amadej.trnkoczy[AT]siol.net. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.)


     

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