Ascalenia acaciella
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| Chrétien , 1915 |
Ascalenia acaciella is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe Chrysopeleiidae family .
features
The moths reach a wingspan of 6 to 8 millimeters. The head, thorax and tegulae have a gray-brown gloss. The tips of the scales are lighter here. The feelers are gray. The forewings are unmarked and dark gray, and mottled with the lighter tips of the scales. The fringed scales are gray. The hind wings are also gray.
In the males the uncus is long, very narrow and curved. The valves are bulbous in the first two thirds, the last third is parallel-walled and has a square apex. On the inner surface there is a group of long bristles. The bristles at the apex are short and slightly curved. Near the base is a single large and curved bristle. The aedeagus is almost straight, it tapers distally and is obliquely flattened. The genital armature is similar to that of Ascalenia antiqua , but differs in the long, narrow uncus and the square tips of the valves.
In females, the slit-shaped bulge of the seventh sternite is large and has a narrow band at the back. The fold of the sixth sternite is large and triangular with a short furrow in the center. The ostium is surrounded on the side by large, semicircular shields. These have a reticulate structure and a group of needles in the middle. Two smaller semicircular needled areas lie on the bulge of the seventh sternite. The ductus bursae is long and broad at the ostium. It then tapers and gradually widens towards the corpus bursae . The sclerotized longitudinal ligament is narrow and widens towards the corpus bursae. This is small and egg-shaped, has a reticulate structure and is provided with large, curved, horn-like signs.
Similar species
Ascalenia acaciella can be distinguished from Ascalenia vanella and Ascalenia vanelloides by the single-colored fore wings.
distribution
Ascalenia acaciella is native to the Canary Islands ( La Gomera ), Malta , North Africa and the Near and Middle East . In the east the distribution area extends to Afghanistan and Pakistan .
biology
The caterpillars develop in the flower heads of the sweet acacia ( Acacia farnesiana ), the terrible acacia ( Acacia karroo ) and the umbrella acacia ( Acacia tortilis ). They pupate in a transparent cocoon covered with caterpillar droppings. The moths are found almost all year round, the species presumably forms several successive generations.
Systematics
The following synonyms are known:
- Scythris tergipunctella Turati , 1924
- Scythris maculatella Lucas , 1937
- Tischeria nouiciata Gozmany , 1960
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g 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. 179 (English).
- ↑ Koster (2008): Cosmopterigidae (Lepidoptera) of Afghanistan Jammu & Kashmir, India with description of two new species. Zool. Med. Leiden 82: Pages 91–102 PDF ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Ascalenia acaciella in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved April 4, 2012
- ^ Friedrich Kasy (1969): preliminary revision of the genus Ascalenia WOCKE (Lepidoptera, Walshiidae). Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna 73: Pages 339–375 PDF
Web links
- Lepiforum e. V. Taxonomy, initial description