Gray-green apple blossom moth

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Gray-green apple blossom moth
Chloroclystis rectangulata01.jpg

Gray-green apple moth ( Pasiphila rectangulata )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Larentiinae
Genre : Pasiphila
Type : Gray-green apple blossom moth
Scientific name
Pasiphila rectangulata
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The Gray-green apple-Pug ( Pasiphila rectangulata ), also fruit trees Pug called, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the tensioner (Geometridae).

features

butterfly

The moths reach a wingspan of 16 to 21 millimeters. The wings are extremely variable in terms of their basic color. Often these shimmer in different gray or brownish-gray tones. Specimens with stronger greenish interferences are considered f. subaerata , those with an almost black color as f. nigrosericeata . In the last few years the tendency to develop such melanistic moths with reduced drawing has increased. A typical characteristic, however, is the strongly kinked, mostly double-toothed outer transverse line on the forewings. The wavy line stands out whitish, while the post- fiscal region is darkened. The hind wings are the same color as the forewings and show a distinctive, high-contrast dark line and spot pattern on the underside.

Caterpillar

Adult caterpillars are yellowish or greenish in color and have a red stripe of varying degrees on their back.

Similar species

  • The green moth ( Chloroclystis v-ata ) can be distinguished by the deep black V-shaped formation on the forewings. In addition, the greenish color elements usually predominate.
  • The sloe moth ( Pasiphila chloerata ) shows a rather evenly extending outer transverse line. In this species, light gray color elements often predominate.

As with many flowering species, a reliable determination of the moths should be carried out by specialists, and a genital morphological analysis is also advisable for clear identification.

Geographical distribution and occurrence

The species occurs in almost all of Europe and is distributed eastward to Japan . In the mountains it rises to an altitude of 1500 meters. It is found predominantly in areas with fruit trees, for example on orchards, in orchards, on fruit tree avenues and in kitchen gardens. Since these habitats are mostly close to man-made landscapes, the gray-green apple moth is also counted among the cultural successors .

Way of life

The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal, like to appear in artificial light sources and also visit various flowers to eat. The main flight time is from June to August. The caterpillars live in the flowers of various fruit trees and shrubs. They are primarily found on the cultivated apple ( Malus domestica ), but also on crab apples ( Malus sylvestris ), bird cherry ( Prunus padus ), rock pear ( Amelanchier ovalis ) and blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa ). The egg hibernates.

Danger

The gray-green apple moth is widespread in Germany and is listed as not endangered on the red list of endangered species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 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).
  2. ↑ a b c Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 8 . Moth VI. Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3497-7 .
  3. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

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 . 1st edition. tape 8 . Moth VI. Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3497-7 .

Web links

Commons : Greyish-green apple moth  - Collection of images, videos and audio files