Idaea subsaturata
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Idaea subsaturata |
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| ( Guenée , 1858) |
Idaea subsaturata is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe Spanner family (Geometridae).
features
The moths have a wingspan of 14 to 15 millimeters, the second (and possibly third) generation only about 12 to 13 millimeters. In North Africa the moths are larger and reach a wingspan of up to 19 millimeters (subsp. Lecerfiata ). The basic color varies only slightly from light brown, medium brown to slightly ocher. The drawing elements are dark brown. The drawing consists of an inner cross line, a central band and an outer cross line. Inner and outer transverse lines are sharply drawn, the central band is washed out. Inner and outer transverse lines are slightly wavy and serrated on the forewings. The inner transverse line is missing on the hind wings and the outer transverse line is more wavy or bulged. The discal spots are often clearly developed, but occasionally also weakly drawn. On the front wing they sit in the central band, on the hind wing they are clearly outside, that is, on the side facing the outer edge. In the border area there are usually six angled, indistinctly marked spots that can also flow into one another. The seam spots are clearly pronounced and can be connected to one another by a thin line.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Idaea subsaturata is predominantly western Mediterranean and relatively small. It is restricted to the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula (from southern Portugal to the Eastern Pyrenees), northern Spain (from the east coast to the Basque Country) and very small occurrences around Madrid and in northern Portugal. In France, the occurrences are also relatively small and isolated (Depts. Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, Lot, Aveyron, Lozère, Gard, Herault, Aude, Pyrenées Orientales and Var and Ardèche) limited. In North Africa, the species occurs from northeastern Morocco, northern Algeria to Tunisia and western Libya. The reports of the kind from Egypt, Cyprus and Israel are regarded by Hausmann as incorrect determinations.
The species occurs only in dry, warm habitats. However, little is known about which habitats are preferred. In the vertical, it occurs from 0 to 2000 meters in height.
Phenology and way of life
The species forms one to three generations per year, depending on the altitude. In the lowlands, the moths fly from late May to mid-October, in the mountains from mid-July to mid-August. The caterpillars develop quickly. In breeding, a cycle lasted only 40 days. Little is known about the host plants in nature, presumably the larvae feed on withered parts of plants from different kinds of herbaceous plants . Breeding succeeded with the petals of common dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), garden lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ), bird knotweed ( Polygonum aviculare ) and other plants and flowers. The moths are attracted to artificial light sources.
Systematics
The species was first scientifically described in 1858 by Achille Guenée as Acidalia subsaturata . Otto Staudinger described it in 1859 under the name Acidalia miserata and Adolf Rössler in 1877 as Acidalia subherbariata . Both names are therefore more recent synonyms . Currently the species is divided into two subspecies: the nominotypical subspecies Idaea subsaturata subsaturata (Guénée, 1858) and Idaea subsaturata lecerfiata Homberg, 1910. The latter subspecies has the synonym Acidalia subsaturata var. Holli Culot, 1917. Idaea subsaturata lecerfiata Homberg, 1910 is different by the lighter basic color and the lighter drawing elements of the nominotypic subspecies. In addition, the spots in the fringe area are indistinct or flow into one another, and the central band on the hind wing is poorly developed.
swell
Individual evidence
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
