Brahmaea europaea

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Amphiesmenoptera
Ordo: Lepidoptera
Subordo: Glossata
Cladus: Coelolepida
Cladus: Myoglossata
Cladus: Neolepidoptera
Infraordo: Heteroneura
Cladus: Eulepidoptera
Cladus: Ditrysia
Cladus: Apoditrysia
Cladus: Obtectomera
Cladus: Macroheterocera
Superfamilia: Bombycoidea
Familia: Brahmaeidae
Genus: Brahmaea
Species: Brahmaea europaea
Brahmaea (Acanthobrahmaea) europaea, the European owl moth, is a lepidopteran from the family Brahmaeidae, in the subgenus Acanthobrahmaea.[1]

Taxonomy
B. europaea is the sole species in the genus Brahmaea in Europe. Most members of the genus are found in eastern Asia.[1] The species can be identified by wing veins in adults and pupal dorsal spines on abdominal segments.[1] The species was originally described as Acanthobrahmaea europaea in 1963, but Acanthobrahmaea later became a subgenus.[1][2]

Distribution and habitat
Range
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.[1] Habitat fragmentation, light pollution, clearing of forest underbrush, and collection of rare species are likely factors affecting B. europaea's distribution and abundance, and contribute to its current IUCN endangered status.[1] Wild boar can also consume both host plants and pupae in the ground.[1]

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.[1] Adults lay eggs on the trunks of plants within Oleaceae, including Fraxinus angustifolia, Phyllirea latifolia, and Ligustrum vulgare in captivity.[1]
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 instars, pupate on the ground where they overwinter, and emerge as adults the following spring.[1]
References
Mosconi, F.; et al. (2014). "An overview of the most outstanding Italian endemic moth, Brahmaea (Acanthobrahmaea) europaea (Lepidoptera: Brahmaeidae)". Fragmenta Entomologica. 46: 1–9.
"Fauna Europaea". Retrieved October 22, 2015.