Oak buds

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Oak buds
(1852) Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) (16409596524) .jpg

Oak moth ( Eupithecia abbreviata )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Larentiinae
Genre : Moth ( Eupithecia )
Type : Oak buds
Scientific name
Eupithecia abbreviata
Stephens , 1831

The oak moth ( Eupithecia abbreviata ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the flyworms (Geometridae). The specific epithet is based on the Latin word abbreviatus with the meaning "abbreviated" and probably refers to the short hind wings compared to other moth species ( Eupithecia ).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 18 to 25 millimeters. All wings have a predominantly brown-gray to clay-brown color, from which a slightly dark brown marbling stands out. With this drawing, they are barely recognizable when they sit on oak trunks ( Quercus ) and are therefore extremely well protected from predators. The disk region is lighter brown and contains a small elongated black diskoid spot . The veins are partly black, the wavy line is indistinct. The hind wings are lightened in the basal region .

Caterpillar

Adult caterpillars are smooth and slender. They are colored light gray to yellowish gray and show large, dark brown, diamond-like spots on their backs. The strongly jagged side stripes are also dark brown.

Similar species

The oak grove moth ( Eupithecia dodoneata ) has an appearance that tends towards gray tones. The drawing elements are clearly set off. In the case of specimens that have flown away, a reliable determination is usually only possible by means of a genital morphological examination.

Distribution and occurrence

The distribution of the species extends through central Europe including the British Isles and further east to the Baltic States , Armenia and the Caucasus . It has also been proven in Turkey . The main habitat are oak forests, mixed oak forests, oak avenues and parklands. In the Southern Alps it rises to heights of 1,100 meters.

Way of life

The main flight time of the crepuscular and nocturnal moths falls in the months of April and May. They like to fly to artificial light sources . They visit bait and flowering pussy willow ( Salix ) for food intake . The caterpillars live in May and June and feed on the flowers and leaves of various oak species ( Quercus ). Caterpillars and butterflies prefer to stay in the treetops. The species overwinters in the pupal stage.

Danger

The oak moth is widespread in the individual federal states in Germany and is usually found in large numbers and is classified as "not endangered" on the red list of endangered species .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Arnold Spuler: The butterflies of Europe , Volume 2, E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, 1910, p. 82
  2. ↑ Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English). , Pp. 127-129
  3. ↑ a b c Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 . , Pp. 251-253
  4. ↑ a b Manfred Koch , Wolfgang Heinicke, Bernd Müller: We determine butterflies. Volume 4: Spanner. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1976, DNB 780451570 , pp. 180-181.
  5. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 , pp. 186-187.
  6. ↑ Endangerment

literature

  • Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English).
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 .
  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .

Web links

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