Cyclophora puppillaria
| Cyclophora puppillaria | ||||||||||||
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Cyclophora puppillaria |
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| Cyclophora puppillaria | ||||||||||||
| ( Huebner , 1758) |
Cyclophora puppillaria , seldom also called Puppilenspanner or Red Belt Puppet Tensioner, is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe Spanner family (Geometridae). It is an extremely variable species in terms of basic color and pattern.
features
The moths reach a wingspan of 23 to 28 millimeters, the second and possibly subsequent generations are on average significantly smaller, often only 19 millimeters. The forewings are pointed apically and the costal margin is bent towards the apex . In contrast, the hind wings are clearly tailed in the middle of the outer edge. Fore and hind wings have almost the same basic color. However, this is very variable and usually ranges from reddish brown to reddish yellow and light brown. There are also specimens with a sand-colored, brown or orange base color. The drawing is also very variable. The inner and outer transverse line and the central shadow can be very clear, but can also be almost completely absent. There can also be an element that is missing. The inner transverse line, but especially the outer transverse line, is often replaced by a row of dots. The discal spots on the fore and hind wings can be large and outlined to small or completely absent. In specimens with large discal spots, these are often cored white. The discal spots of the forewings, if present (and if a central shadow is formed), are located apically towards the apex. In contrast, the discal spots of the hind wings, if present and a central shadow is formed, lie in the central shadow or towards the root of it. Edge spots are usually present on the forewings, but mostly absent on the hind wings. The fringing spots of the forewings, if present, are particularly clearly formed towards the apex of the wing. The root half of the Kostalrand is often dark in color. Where the inner and outer transverse line reach the costal margin of the forewings, there are usually clear spots. These can also be present when the transverse lines have almost disappeared. The fringes usually have the basic color of the wings. When subspecies lilacinipes of Madeira , the fringes are against darker than the base color.
The egg is elongated-oval with the slightly wider side at the bottom. It is initially light yellow, later turns orange and is reddish-spotted shortly before the egg caterpillars hatch.
The color of the caterpillar varies from green and yellow to brown and red. The segments are clearly constricted and usually also contrasted with the constrictions in color. Feet, stigma and anus valve are colored reddish. The yellow to brown head often has a darker longitudinal line above.
The doll is relatively slim with a pointed cremaster . It is mostly greenish in color, with the tips of the head and cremaster being slightly reddish.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is widespread in the Mediterranean. The occurrence ranges from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco in the west to Greece , Asia Minor and Egypt in the east. It occurs on all major Mediterranean islands. The occurrence extends over the Crimea and the Caucasus to Iran and possibly to Afghanistan . In the north, the Alps form the northern limit of the distribution, in France it occurs in southern France and on the Atlantic coast to south of Brittany . Further to the east, the northernmost permanent occurrences are found in Hungary . The species migrates and can therefore also be found north of the Alps to southern England , Denmark , southern Sweden and southern Finland in summer . Under favorable conditions, it can form a (subsequent) generation there, which, however, does not survive the winter.
The populations in Madeira and the Azores are regarded as conspecific, but accepted as their own subspecies , C. p. lilacinipes on Madeira and C. p. granti in the Azores.
The species prefers dry and warm habitats . In the Mediterranean area it is often found in the maquis and loose oak forests. In the vertical, the species can be found between 0 and about 1000 meters, in Turkey also up to 1500 meters. During the migratory flights, however, the species can soar to altitudes of up to 3200 meters.
Way of life
The species is plurivoltine , i.e. that is, it forms several generations a year. The moths appear in the northern part of the distribution area with down-to-earthness in March and fly into October or, with favorable weather conditions, into November. In North Africa and the Middle East, the moths can be found all year round. The moths fly at twilight and at night, they are attracted by artificial light sources .
The caterpillars are polyphagous. The following host plants are given in the literature: oaks ( Quercus spp.), Rock roses ( Cistus spp.), Myrtle ( Myrtus ) (e.g. myrtle ( Myrtus communis )), narrow-leaved stone linden ( Phillyrea angustifolia ), heather ( Erica ) and the western strawberry tree ( Arbutus unedo ).
Systematics
The species was first scientifically described by Jacob Huebner in 1798 under the name Geometra puppillaria . Due to the almost extreme variability in drawing and color, the species was described several times under other names: Geometra nolaria Hübner, 1809, Geometra gyrata Hübner, 1809, Aspilates mirtalis Costa, 1834, Ephyra calaritana Turati, 1911 and Cosymbia (Ephyra) puppillaria asiaeminoris Amsel, 1935. All these names are therefore younger synonyms . Other suggested names for this species are recognized as subspecies. The following subspecies are currently considered: Cyclophora puppillaria granti Prout, 1935 (Azores) and Cyclophora puppillaria lilacinipes Schaus & Cockerell, 1923 (Madeira)
swell
Individual proof
literature
- Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .
- Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 .
- Günter Ebert (Hrsg.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 8, Nachtfalter VI (Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part), Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 2001. ISBN 3-800-13497-7
- Axel Hausmann: The Geometrid moths of Europe, 2nd Sterrhinae. In A. Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe 2. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2004, ISBN 8-788-75737-4
annotation
- ↑ The German names are completely unusual because they are not a down-to-earth species. The cited literature does not use these names!
