Evergestis limbata

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Evergestis limbata
Evergestis limbata

Evergestis limbata

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Crambidae
Subfamily : Evergestinae
Genre : Evergestis
Type : Evergestis limbata
Scientific name
Evergestis limbata
( Linnaeus , 1767)

Evergestis limbata is a butterfly from the family of Crambidae . The species iswidespread inCentral and Southern Europe and is currently expanding its range to the north.

features

The moths reach a wingspan of about 22 millimeters. The head and body are light gray, the basic color of the forewings is light brown to light red-brown, with darker veins . The cell in particular is often very distinct. The inner transverse line runs slightly obliquely. However, it is almost straight and has a slight bulge on the front edge. The outer transverse line is clearly oblique and is angled near the front edge. The discal patch is more or less triangular and has a darker border. A dark, wedge-shaped spot extends from the outer transverse line to the cell . The outer field is always significantly darker than the basic color and, depending on the basic color, is gray-brown to almost dark red-brown. However, it is usually a little lighter than the two cross lines. The fringes are usually a little darker than the outer field. The caterpillars are pale and have a slightly darker top. The head is light brown.

Occurrence and habitat

The species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula in the west, across southern and central Europe to southern Eastern Europe. It currently appears to be spreading north. In 1967 the first specimens were found in Denmark . In 1990 she was also found on the Channel Island of Guernsey . In the meantime, individual specimens have also been detected in southern England, for the first time in 1993. It is unclear whether a population has already established there or whether they are migrants from mainland Europe. In view of the increasing density of finds, the latter seems to be more likely. In southern Sweden the species now also seems to be indigenous, in 2001 it was also detected in southern Finland. Evergestis limbata lives in dry to moist, open or bushy locations and also in cultivated land.

Phenology and way of life

Two generations are formed per year, the moths of the first generation fly in May and June, the moths of the second from July to September. The moths are nocturnal and come to artificial light sources . The caterpillars eat the leaves of rocket ( Sisymbrium ), Alliaria , Schöterichen ( Erysimum ) and woad ( Isatis tinctoria ). Presumably the caterpillars can also feed on other cruciferous plants (Cruciferae). The autumn caterpillars overwinter in a cocoon and pupate in spring.

Taxonomy

The species was first scientifically described by Carl von Linné in 1767 under the name Phalaena Geometra limbata . It was described again in 1820 under the name Mesographe praetextalis by Jacob Huebner , Achille Guenée led it in 1854 under Pionea limbalis . The latter names are more recent synonyms of Evergestis limbata (Linné, 1767). Two subspecies are currently distinguished: the nominate subspecies E. limbata limbata and E. limbata delimbata Osthelder, 1940, which is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula . It differs from the nominate subspecies by the outer field, which is colored similar to the basic color. Guenée

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Evergestis limbata (Linnaeus, 1767). Ian Kimber, accessed April 1, 2013 .
  2. ↑ St Margaret's at Cliffe Photo Diary - Migrant or Colonist? Retrieved April 1, 2013 .
  3. ↑ Barry Goater, Matthias Nuss, Wolfgang Speidel: Pyraloidea I (Crambidae, Acentropinae, Evergestinae, Heliothelinae, Schoenobiinae, Scopariinae) . In: P. Huemer, O. Karsholt, L. Lyneborg (eds.): Microlepidoptera of Europe . 1st edition. tape 4 . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2005, ISBN 87-88757-33-1 , pp. 89 (English).
  4. ^ Swedish moths and butterflies - Evergestis limbata. Retrieved April 1, 2013 .
  5. ^ A new moth to Finland. Pertti Pakkanen, accessed April 1, 2013 .
  6. ↑ a b František Slamka: The Common Moth (Pyraloidea) of Central Europe . Ed .: František Slamka. 2nd Edition. Bratislava 1997, ISBN 80-967540-2-5 , p. 19 .

Web links

Commons : Evergestis limbata  - album with pictures, videos and audio files