Idaea mustelata

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Idaea mustelata
Idaea mustelata.jpg

Idaea mustelata

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Sterrhinae
Tribe : Sterrhini
Genre : Idaea
Type : Idaea mustelata
Scientific name
Idaea mustelata
( Gumppenberg , 1892)

The Idaea mustelata is a butterfly ( moth ) from the Spanner family (Geometridae).

features

The moths reach a wingspan of 12 to 16, rarely up to 18 millimeters. The forewings are relatively slender. The basic color varies from whitish to whitish brown. On the forewing, between the inner and outer transverse line from the front to the rear edge, there is a broad, brown to gray zone (roughly equivalent to the middle field) with a wavy or jagged border and sometimes stronger bulges towards the outer edge. The distal and proximal delimitation of the zone are not or only partially parallel. This zone becomes narrower towards the anal edge and usually does not reach it, but ends in a cone-like extension. The front edge is mostly dark brown towards the base, sometimes the entire inner root field and the front half of the outer root field are dark brown. This dark brown zone is absent on the hind wings; it is only indicated by gray shadows.

The wavy line is flanked by gray shadows on the hind and fore wings on either side of the line. The outer boundary is often indistinct on the forewings and partly also on the hind wings. In some specimens, the seam line is marked by black seam spots, which are elongated in the direction of the seam line and can possibly be connected by gray shadows. The black discal spots are always clearly pronounced and mostly elongated towards the front / anal edge.

Usually no spurs are developed on the hind legs, but such spurs have been found in individual specimens.

Similar species

Idaea mustelata is very similar to the southern dwarf moth ( Idaea rusticata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1763)). Nevertheless, the possibility of confusion is low, since the distribution areas are mutually exclusive. However, the distribution areas in the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon come very close. Only here is an overlap in the distribution areas of the two species possible. In the southern dwarf moth ( Idaea rusticata ) the middle field reaches the inner edge of the forewing in considerable width. In Idaea mustelata , on the other hand, the dark brown central field narrows very quickly towards the anal edge of the forewing and forms a cone just before the edge, i.e. it ends before the anal edge. In Idaea mustelata , the fore wing is somewhat narrower.

Geographical distribution and habitat

Idaea mustelata occurs only on the Iberian Peninsula, exceptions are the northernmost part of Portugal and the northern Spanish coastal zone. The species was detected in Navarre in 2006. Their occurrence extends over Catalonia , the Eastern Pyrenees to the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon. In North Africa, the species is widespread in Morocco , especially in the higher altitudes. From there the occurrence extends to western Algeria.

The species is xerothermophilic, which means it is restricted to dry, warm locations. It usually occurs between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level. However, it is not infrequently found in the north of the distribution area up to sea level. In Morocco, on the other hand, the species is common at altitudes between 1700 and 2200 meters, but it is less common at lower altitudes and is rarely found at sea level.

Phenology and way of life

Idaea mustelata is univoltin , which means that only one generation is formed per year. The moths fly from early July to early August. Only in the southern part of the distribution area is it bivoltine in the lower elevations. The moths can be found here from April to October. They are attracted by artificial light sources. Nothing is known about the development of the pre-imaginal stages.

Systematics

The species was of Carl von Gumppenberg 1892 as Dosithea mustelata first nomenclaturally described valid. The name was already used by Jules Pierre Rambur in 1866, who did not use it in binomial form; it is therefore invalid within the meaning of the IRZN and the first valid description was only made in 1892 by Carl von Gumppenberg. Later it was mostly only regarded as a subspecies of the southern dwarf moth ( Idaea rusticata ), until Axel Hausmann restored the independence of this species in 2004.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. Jump up ↑ J. Cifuentes and M. Alcobendas: Los Geometridae de Navarra (Espana), subfamily Sterrhinae (Insecta: Lepidoptera). SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologia, 34 (133): 13-33, Madrid 2006 ISSN  0300-5267
  2. ^ Carl von Gumppenberg: Systema Geometrarum zonae temperatioris septentrionalis: systematic processing of the tensioners of the northern temperate zone. Published in the Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Germanicum naturae curiosorum from 1887 (until 1896) in 8 parts HeBIS union catalog

literature

  • Axel Hausmann: The Geometrid moths of Europe, 2nd Sterrhinae. In A. Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe 2. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2004, ISBN 87-88757-37-4

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