Gooseberry tensioner
| Gooseberry tensioner | ||||||||||||
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Gooseberry spider ( Abraxas g. Grossulariata ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Abraxas grossulariata | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The gooseberry tensioner ( Abraxas grossulariata ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of Spanner (Geometridae). The species is also sometimes referred to as the gooseberry harlequin . It was named Butterfly of the Year 2016 by the BUND environmental foundation.
features
The moth becomes up to 21 millimeters long and reaches a wingspan of 32 to 48 millimeters (35 to 40 mm). It has conspicuously patterned forewings: on a white background there are six transverse rows of black spots, some of which are connected with a yellow band. The hind wings shine brighter because there are usually significantly fewer dark spots on them and these are also smaller.
The distribution of black spots and yellow bands varies greatly. The f. candida Raynor, 1909 is almost completely white, while conversely the f. nigra Raynor, 1909 is almost completely black or black-brown. Numerous other color variations between these extremes have also been named. These variations can occur anywhere in the distribution area, and the names assigned to these variants have no nomenclature status. Despite the variability, the species is so striking that it can hardly be confused with any other species.
Egg, caterpillar and pupa
The egg is oval with a flattened base and a slight lateral narrowing. The slightly shiny surface shows a strong network-like structure. It is colored yellow with gray markings.
The color of the caterpillar is just as variable as the color of the moth. Usually it is pale yellowish white with many black spots. The density of black spots can be so high that the result is a pure black caterpillar. There is almost always an orange-red broad lateral line. The head is colored glossy black. The adult caterpillar becomes up to 32 millimeters long.
The pupa is shiny brown to black with light yellow or orange segment incisions. The Kremaster has eight strong, hook-shaped bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The gooseberry moth is common from the Iberian Peninsula to Central and East Asia (Japan, North China and Korea) (several subspecies). In the south the distribution area extends through the northern Mediterranean area over the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor to the Armenian highlands , in the north to central Fennoscandia . The species is absent from the islands of the western Mediterranean. In the Alps it rises up to 1500 meters.
The rather warmth-loving species can be found in gardens with berry bushes, especially when there are gooseberries and currants . Sometimes you can also meet them in alluvial forests, by bushy streams and in urban areas. The frequency is very different. In some years there are so many animals that the bushes are damaged and in other years you can hardly find a specimen.
Way of life
The gooseberry sprout forms only one generation a year; the moths fly from late June to August. They are nocturnal and come to the light. During the day, the moths often rest openly in the vegetation, but can easily be scared off. The female moths lay the eggs in groups on the underside of the leaves of the host plants. The egg caterpillars hatch after about two weeks. The caterpillars are also nocturnal and spend the day in a loose web between the leaves of the food plants. You can find them from June to August. Pupation takes place near the ground in a hammock-like net cocoon on the host plant.
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of gooseberries ( Ribes uva-crispa ), currants and various deciduous trees such as sloe ( Prunus spinosa ), euonymus ( Euonymus ), hazel ( Corylus ), willow ( Salix ), bird cherry ( Prunus padus ), hawthorn ( Crataegus ), buckthorn ( Rhamnus ), Great stonecrop ( Sedum telephium ), heather ( Calluna vulgaris ) and other plants. The caterpillar overwinters between dead leaves or in crevices in the wall.
Taxonomy and systematics
The species was first scientifically described by Carl von Linné in 1758 as Phalaena Geometra grossulariata . It is the type species of the genus Abraxas Leach, 1815. Currently, three subspecies are distinguished:
- Abraxas grossulariata grossulariata , the nominate subspecies
- Abraxas grossulariata dsungarica Wehrli, 1939
- Abraxas grossulariata minor heart, 1905
Danger
The populations of the gooseberry sprout are declining in Germany; it is therefore a kind of forewarning list.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ bund.net: Butterfly of the Year 2016: Gooseberry Spanner (accessed December 3, 2015)
- ↑ Leraut (2009: p. 61)
- ↑ UK moths - website of Ian Kimber
- ↑ a b c d Forster & Wohlfahrt (1971: p. 198/9)
- ^ A b David J. Carter: Pest Lepidoptera of Europe with special references to the British Isles. 431 S., Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht 1984 ISBN 90-6193-504-0 (p. 223/4)
- ↑ Carter & Hargraves (1987: 94/5)
- ↑ Ebert (2001: pp. 295–8)
- ^ Karl Eckstein: The butterflies of Germany, 4th volume, The tensioners and the bear-like butterflies. KG Lutz Verlag, Stuttgart, 1923 (p. 39)
- ^ Carl von Linné: Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 10th edition, Stockholm 1758 Online at SUB Göttingen (description of the type p. 525)
- ↑ Red lists at Science4you
literature
- Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .
- David J. Carter, Brian Hargreaves: Caterpillars and Butterflies of Europe and their Forage Plants. Paul Paray, Hamburg and Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-490-13918-6
- Günter Ebert (Eds.), Daniel Bartsch, Armin Becher & Stefan Hafner: The Butterflies of Baden-Württemberg, Volume 9, Moths VII. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6
- Manfred Koch , Wolfgang Heinicke, Bernd Müller: We determine butterflies. Volume 4: Spanner. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1976, DNB 780451570 , pp. 94-95.
- Patrice Leraut: Moths of Europe. Volume II. Geometrid moths. NAP Editions 2009, ISBN 978-2-913688-09-4
- Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 .
Web links
- www.schmetterling-raupe.de
- Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa (English)
- Markku Savela: Lepidoptera and some other life forms (English)
- UK moths - website of Ian Kimber (doll!)
- Abraxas grossulariata at Fauna Europaea
Graubindiger Mohrenfalter (2003) | Aurora Butterfly (2004) | Ocher-binding velvet butterfly (2005) | Swallowtail (2006) | Map (2007) | Argusbläuling (2008) | Peacock butterfly (2009) | Schönbär (2010) | Great Schiller Butterfly (2011) | Little Peacock Butterfly (2012) | Brown-spotted mother-of-pearl butterfly (2013) | Spurge Hawk (2014) | Red ribbon (2015) | Gooseberry Tender (2016) | Golden Eight (2017) | Big Fox (2018) | Checkerboard Butterfly (2019)