Animals Speleologists choose butterfly as animal of the year 2025
The Swiss Speleological Society has chosen the olive-brown cave butterfly as Cave Animal of the Year 2025. The butterfly can be found in underground cavities almost all year round.
01.01.2025, 00:00
SDA
In Switzerland, it is found in large numbers in all parts of the country and can still be detected at an altitude of over 2000 meters in alpine areas, as the Swiss Speleological Society announced on Wednesday.
The olive-brown hawthorn moth (Triphosa dubitata) or cave moth was first described for science in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné. The butterfly is a moth that regularly hibernates in caves, often in considerable numbers. The first specimens can be found in caves as early as July. The species, which can be found in all cave areas, usually sits in large groups on the cave wall, more rarely on the ceiling.
The moth has a wingspan of 3.8 to 4.8 centimetres. The ground color of the forewings is olive to violet-brown. The hind wings have a light grey-brown color and are provided with some indistinct transverse lines. All wings show a wavy, black fringe. Outside the caves, the butterfly colonizes forest edges, riparian forests and dry slopes.
