Elderberry

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Elderberry
Elderberry spider (Ourapteryx sambucaria)

Elderberry spider ( Ourapteryx sambucaria )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Ennominae
Genre : Ourapteryx
Type : Elderberry
Scientific name
Ourapteryx sambucaria
( Linnaeus , 1758)
Clutch of the elderberry spider
Elderberry caterpillar

The swallow-tailed moth or night dovetail ( Ourapteryx sambucaria ) is a conspicuous moths from the subfamily of the Ennominae within the family of tensioner (geometridae). It is widespread in Europe and not rare locally.

features

The moths reach a wingspan of 40 to 50 millimeters. They are therefore relatively large for one type of tensioner. The fore and hind wings are creamy white to yellowish and have slightly darker hind ends. The front wings have two almost straight, light brown transverse lines, the hind wings show a transverse line. Sometimes one or two short parallel strokes are developed between the two lines on the forewings. Especially the edge of the hind wings is yellow or reddish brown. The most striking feature are the tail-like, elongated tips of the hind wings, which make these moths unmistakable. On them one finds a rounded and a line-shaped, reddish spot.

The eggs are elongated and initially yellowish white in color, later they become more intense golden yellow. They are flattened at the top and bottom and have 14 to 16 longitudinal lines connected by transverse elements.

The caterpillars are about 50 millimeters long and are very slender. They are light yellow-green to olive green or brown in color and have indistinct, light side stripes. Your head is small and flat. They look very much like a small twig.

Occurrence

The species is locally not rare in areas rich in bushes, gardens, alluvial forests and deciduous forests and widespread in Europe. However, it is absent in the southern Mediterranean and northern Europe (detected as far as central Sweden). It occurs from the lowlands to the low mountain ranges and the Alps up to about 1600 m.

Way of life

The animals are only active at night and are attracted by light.

Food of the caterpillars

The caterpillars feed on elder ( Sambucus ), common lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ), currant ( Ribes ), ivy ( Hedera helix ) and clematis ( Clematis ).

Flight and caterpillar times

The moths fly in one generation from late May to August. In favorable years, a second, incomplete generation flies in September and October. From August the caterpillars can be found, which also overwinter.

development

The caterpillars overwinter. Pupation takes place in a loose web between spun leaves. The doll is yellowish brown with somewhat darker markings. The cremaster is flat and has two short thorns and several hook bristles at the end.

swell

literature

  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .
  • Heiko Bellmann : The new Kosmos butterfly guide. Butterflies, caterpillars and forage plants. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-440-09330-1 .
  • 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 (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 9, Nachtfalter VII (Spanner (Geometridae), 2nd part), Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 2003. ISBN 3-8001-3279-6
  • Helgard Reichholf-Riehm: Butterflies . 287 p., Orbis Naturführer, Orbis Verlag Munich 2000 ISBN 3-572-01084-5
  • David J. Carter, Brian Hargreaves: Caterpillars and Butterflies of Europe and their Forage Plants. Blackwell Wissenschaftsverlag 1987, ISBN 3-8263-8139-4

Web links

Commons : Elderflower  - album with pictures, videos and audio files