Ascalenia

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Ascalenia
Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Superfamily : Gelechioidea
Family : Chrysopeleiidae
Genre : Ascalenia
Scientific name
Ascalenia
Wocke , 1876

Ascalenia is a genus of butterflies from the family of cosmopterigidae (Cosmopterigidae).

features

The head of the butterfly is smoothly scaled. The antennae are 3/4 to 4/5 as long as the forewings. The antennae base segment ( scapus ) is short and fairly wide. The labial palps are cylindrical and elongated. The fore wings are lanceolate and slightly tapered distally . They have a gray-brown basic color and often have dark spots and indistinct lighter spots or bands. The hind wings are very narrow and less than half as wide as the forewings.

In the males, the uncus is long, narrow and curved. The tegumen is very short and wide. The blades are strong and sometimes have extensions that are provided with long bristles, hairs or spikes. The aedeagus is straight or curved, cornuti are absent.

In females, the apophyses are about the same length. The ostium is located on the anterior part of the slit-shaped bulge of the seventh sternite and under the large fold of the posterior margin of the sixth sternite. It is surrounded by rounded or bump-shaped sclerosis with reticulated or needle-shaped structures. The ductus bursae is narrow to fairly wide. It runs in one or more turns and has a sclerotized longitudinal ligament. The corpus bursae is rounded and sometimes covered with crest structures. It has two small funnel-shaped or horn-shaped signs.

distribution

The genus is numerous in arid and semi-arid regions of the Old World , for example in the deserts of North Africa , the Middle East , the Middle East and Central Asia .

biology

The biology of only a few species is known. The caterpillars drill in the seed pods or branches of the tamarisk family (Tamaricaceae), knotweed family (Polygonaceae), mimosa family (Mimosaceae) and legumes (Fabaceae). Some species produce plant galls.

Systematics

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k J. C. Koster, S. Yu. Sinev: Momphidae, Batrachedridae, Stathmopodidae, Agonoxenidae, Cosmopterigidae, Chrysopeleiidae . In: P. Huemer, O. Karsholt, L. Lyneborg (eds.): Microlepidoptera of Europe . 1st edition. tape 5 . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-66-8 , pp. 177 (English).
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Friedrich Kasy (1969): Preliminary revision of the genus Ascalenia Wocke (Lepidoptera, Walshiidae). Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna 73: Page 339–375.
  3. ↑ a b c d Sjaak (JC) Koster (2008): Notes on the Cosmopterigidae (Lepidoptera) of Afghanistan and Jammu & Kashmir, India with descriptions of two new species. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden 82 (12): Pages 91-102
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Afromoths - Ascalenia Wocke, 1876. Belgian Biodivercity Platform, accessed on March 26, 2012 .
  5. ↑ a b Friedrich Kasy (1968): Results of the Zoological Nubia Expedition 1962. Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna 72: Pages 497-525
  6. ^ Ascalenia at Fauna Europaea. Retrieved March 26, 2012
  7. ↑ a b c Friedrich Kasy (1975): Another contribution to the knowledge of the Walshiidae fauna of southern Persia (Lepidoptera). Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna 79: Pages 237–244
  8. ↑ a b c d e Revised Checklist of Cosmopterigidae in Neotropical Region. Mississippi Entomological Museum, accessed March 26, 2012 .