Large juniper pods

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Large juniper pods
Large juniper moth (Eupithecia intricata), gray color variant

Large juniper moth ( Eupithecia intricata ), gray color variant

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Larentiinae
Genre : Moth ( Eupithecia )
Type : Large juniper pods
Scientific name
Eupithecia intricata
( Zetterstedt , 1839)
Gray-brown color variant
North American caterpillar ( Eupithecia intricata taylorata )
Common juniper needles , the main food of the caterpillars

The great juniper moth ( Eupithecia intricata ) ( synonym : Eupithecia helveticaria ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the flyers (Geometridae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 18 to 26 millimeters. The basic color of all wings varies from light gray to bluish gray to brown-gray. Cross lines are clearly recognizable in newly hatched specimens, but fade quickly and only become indistinct as the life span increases. An elongated, black discoidal spot , however, is always visible. The second segment of the abdomen is dark brown in color.

Caterpillar

Adult caterpillars are smooth and elongated. They are grass-green, blue-green or yellow-green in color and have white side ridge lines and also white side stripes. They are similar in color to the needles of their main forage plant, the common juniper ( Juniperus communis ), and are therefore difficult to recognize for predators.

Doll

The brownish doll is provided with greenish wing sheaths. The cremaster has a reddish tip with eight hooked bristles.

Similar species

The discoidal spot on the mostly ash-gray satyr pacifier ( Eupithecia satyrata ) is very small. The moths also differ in their light gray abdomen, which lacks a dark brown segment.

Distribution, occurrence and subspecies

The distribution of the species extends from Western and Central Europe including the British Isles and Fennoscandinavia to Russia and through Asia Minor to Central Asia. In the west of Ireland it is represented by the subspecies Eupithecia intricata hibernica . The Central European populations are assigned to the subspecies Eupithecia intricata arceuthata . There is also an occurrence in North America with the subspecies Eupithecia intricata taylorata .

The species primarily inhabits heather areas, rough meadows, sparse pine forests and parks and gardens, but can also be found in built-up urban areas and in cemeteries. In the Alps , the species rises to heights of 2600 meters.

Way of life

The nocturnal moths fly in two directly following generations from May to September, with the second generation only occurring regularly in the southern regions. They like to visit artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed on the needles of juniper species ( Juniperus ), predominantly on common juniper ( Juniperus communis ). In North America, tree species ( thuja ) are also widely accepted as food. The species overwinters in the pupal stage.

Danger

The common juniper moth is widespread and mostly numerous in Germany and is classified as "not endangered" on the Red List of Endangered Species .

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). , Pp. 266-269
  2. ↑ 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. 163-164.
  3. ↑ Locations in North America according to information from Mississippi State University
  4. ^ Karl Cleve: The butterflies of West Berlin , Berliner Naturschutzblätter, Volksbund Naturschutz e. V., Volume 22, No. 63, 1978, p. 364
  5. ↑ 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. 163-166
  6. ^ Josef Wolfsberger: New and interesting macrolepidoptera finds from southern Bavaria and the adjacent Northern Limestone Alps. In: Bavarian Entomologists' newsletter. , 45, 1955.
  7. ↑ Manfred Koch , Wolfgang Heinicke, Bernd Müller: We determine butterflies. Volume 4: Spanner. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1976, DNB 780451570 , pp. 168-169.
  8. ↑ 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 .

Web links

Commons : Big Juniper Mushroom  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files