Saturniidae of Austria
This page is dedicated to Kurt Himmelbauer who has greatly assisted me with many images and much information, especially in the formative days of the WLSS.
Aglia tau |
Perisomena caecigena
Samia cynthia |
Saturnia ligurica
Saturnia pavonia |
Saturnia pyri |
Detailed range descriptions for Saturniidae populations within Austria are listed below.
"Austria is a pipe-shaped, landlocked country lying in the bosom of Europe. It extends 560km from east to west, 280km north to south, and is surrounded by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland.
"The Alps occupy the southern and western portions of the country, and peak at the Grossglockner's 3797-metre summit.The upland forests of the Bohemian Massif run north to the Czech border, while the Danube Valley and the fertile lowlands of the east provide the bulk of Austria's arable land. There are numerous lakes in Carinthia and the Salzkammergut region; Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria are the most important plonk-growing regions.
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"Nearly half of Austria is forested, mainly with oak and beech at low altitudes; at higher elevations conifers predominate. Trees yield to Alpine meadows at just over 2000m and orchids, edelweiss and poppies become quite common.
"Most of Austria has a moderate central European climate though the eastern part of the country is blessed with a Continental Pannonian climate, which means that average temperatures in July are above 19 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall is less than 80 cm."
Summer temperatures range between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius; while winters are relatively mild at one to four degrees Celsius.
Aglia tau probably ranges throughout Austria with moths on the wing in April-June.
Antheraea yamamai is found in southern and eastern Austria and
flies from mid August into September as a single generation as an introduced species.
Perisomena caecigena is found in
southeastern Austria (Steiermark) with moths on the wing in September and
October.
Samia cynthia flies in northeastern Austria as
an introduced species. Flight is in May and June with sometimes a
partial second brood in September.
Saturnia ligurica probably flies in southern
Austria from March until May.
Saturnia pavonia is probably widely distributed throughout Austria
with moths on the wing from March until June.
Saturnia pavoniella probably flies in
March-April and may be limited to western Austria.
Saturnia pyri probably flies throughout Austria in May.
Saturnia spini flies in eastern Austria from April until June.
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