After looking for some spruce brushwood for advent decoration, to our great surprise we heart a late locusts, most probably C. biguttulus. This is even more surprising since the nights were already cold und freezing. However, the sunny side of the Urseetal still has the sun for a couple of hours. Nice find!
Tag Archives: 2011
(Deutsch) Noch lebt die Wüste!
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Only locusts, almost any butterflies
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Today in the Badische Zeitung
Manfred G. Haderer has published an article on the Urseetal in the Badische Zeitung, the local Newspaper, which refers to mainly three points: latest development in the Urseetal, species diversity and richness of butterflies, and management and care for appropriate butterfly environment.
We welcome all readers who have found this page via that article.
Alcis repandata – Mottled Beauty
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Cerapteryx graminis
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Triodia sylvina
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Spilosoma urticae
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Who am I?
Wer bin ich?
This animal got noticed on our terrace on 7th august 2011. Orgyia antiqua (Rusty Tussock Moth or Vapourer).
Field trip in the moor of Hinterzarten
On Saturday, 30th of July, some 14 people met for a field trip into the moor of Hinterzarten. Siegried Kognitzki (SK) was the tour leader.
After introducing development and requirement for forming a moor, SK demonstrated the different zones of a moor and its surroundings. Moor specific plants and animals living in the moor and around were presented. Due to cold weather the insects were almost missing: a single dragonfly was observed. Grass frog larvae are not really moor specific. Along the walk, plants specific for the moor were seen: Vaccinium uliosum (compared to Vaccinium myrtillus), Potentilla palustris, Menyanthes trifoliata, as well as Andromed polifolia. Pinus mugo spp. uncinata/rotundata was compared to Pinus sylvestris, Moor birches compared to usual birches. Typical moor forming plants are and several of them were presented.
Walking around the moor, several grasshopper were found and identified. Finally a single Melitaea athalia (heath fritillary) could be seen.
The afternoon was favoured by dryness, but it was much to cold for end of july. After three and half hours the participants a mixed group of tourist and locals were back at the train station. They thanked SK for this informative afternoon.
Natural reservation without spruces?
In the springtime, spruces had already been removed around the moor. Now, much earlier than expected, spruces are cut in the floodplain futher down the valley. Around the former dumpsite all spruces have been removed, the valley becomes thus open to look at from the street to Raitenbuch. As of now, friday afternoon, almost all the spruces have been cut, it remains to clean the ground.
Since the ground is part of the moor, heavy full harvesters or log transporters can only work from the rim where the ground is firm. Therefore alle trees are cut down hand-operated, drawn to the rim where they are processed further.
No recultivation is planned by the different offices, the place will be left to itself, regular spruce removal may take place.
This project finished, a further point which the team Ursee within the Kulturlandschaftsprojekt had raised got performed.
On wednesday this week, Manfred G. Haderer published a report in the Badischen Zeitung.
Carabus auronitens
Today this beautiful beetle (Carabus auronitens) crossed my way. From the golden ground beetle (Carabus auratus) it differs by two main criteria: here only the first section of the antennae is read while C.auratus has four sections colored; the elytra (hardened forewings) have blackened longitudinal stripes. This beetle lives of snails, worms and other insects, up to 150 percent of its own body weight per day. C. auronitens is like all Carabus species protected by law.
Zygaena filipendulae
In defiance to the fairly cold and misty weather this pair was found today in the Urseetal: Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) most probably
July Highflyer
This July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) visitied us:
Further images: http://www.pyrgus.de/Hydriomena_furcata.html and in the Lepiforum. Not endangered, lives off Salix and Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry).
Butterfly Day!
Twice Apatura iris, several Nymphalis io, and Argynnis paphia, Lycaena phleas frequently, Melanargia galathea frequently, in addition other Lycaenidae, Erebia ligea frequently, several Gonepteryx rhamn, several Nymphalis C-album, and finally the first Papillio machaon of this year. All when marching on the way around the valley.
Much reduced compared to the weeks before are Nymphalis urticae. Obviously a generation has passed.
In the forest I found where it has been the year before a Lilium martagon.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Trying to document butterfly I observed the largest dragonfly in Germany (Libellula/Cordulegaster boltonii). This species lives preferentially in clean mountain creeks. This species is protected by federal law, in Baden-Württemberg not yet endangered
Purple Emperor
Today, apart from Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Peacock butterfly (Nymphalis io) and Small Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis urticae) I took pictures of the Purple Emperor (Apatura iris; 1st photo alive) in the Urseetal.
Red Admiral – Apatura iris
This butterfly usually lives at the top of trees and is thus rarely seen. This one loved dog-shit. Species specific is the lack of an eyespot on the anterior wing upperside and the red colorization on the posterior wing underside as well as the spike in the white band there. Specifically protected by federal law, in Baden-Würrtemberg under observation (Part of the Red List of endangered species)
(Deutsch) Leuchtkäfer!
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(Deutsch) Amphibienexkursion und Vortrag
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Fritillaries!
This sunday afternoon I took pictures of five different fritillaries: Argynnis paphia – Silver-washed Fritillary, Mesoacidalia/Argynnis aglaja – Dark Green Fritillary , Brenthis ino – Lesser Marbled Fritillary , Clossiana/Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary , Clossiana/Boloria titania – Purple Bog Fritillary. However, the Blues and the Coppers are gone, since almost all the meadows got cut within a few days. In our garden a single female Purple-edge Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) could be seen.
(Klick into the image to get the full version)