Small hop rootworm
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Small hop rootworm ( Pharmacis lupulina ) |
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| Pharmacis lupulina | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The small hop rootworm ( Pharmacis lupulina ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the rootworm family (Hepialidae).
features
The moths of the small hop rootworm show a clear sexual dimorphism. The female moths have a wingspan of 24 to 38 mm, the male moths have a wingspan of 22 to 31 mm. The basic color of the upper side of the forewing varies in males and females from light gray-brown to dark gray-brown. The wings are elongated and narrow, the apex rounded. The white, usually darker-edged drawing of the upper side of the forewing can be described as a wide V. However, the V is often interrupted and reduced to a series of dots or also greatly reduced. One leg of the V runs from the wing base almost parallel to the inner edge. Strongly drawn specimens can also have an elongated, comma-shaped or rounded spot in the disk region. On the inside of the outer transverse line, the other leg of the V, individual white dots can also appear. White wedge marks can be developed in the border area. A line-like darkening can also be formed along the costal edge. The females are usually a little paler and less clearly drawn than the males. The fringes are usually more or less clearly lighter than the basic color and can be more or less clearly spotted. The hind wings are usually a little darker than the basic color of the forewings. The head, thorax and abdomen are very hairy and colored in the basic color of the upper side of the forewings. The antennae are about 3 mm long and have 23 to 25 segments. The males have a weak anal bush.
The egg measures 0.65 mm in length and 0.5 mm in transverse diameter. The surface is smooth. When deposited, the egg is yellowish white and turns black within a few hours of being deposited.
The Eiraupe is about 3 mm long, translucent and with hellbrunem head. In later stages the caterpillar is cream-colored to whitish with a brownish head. The adult very slender caterpillar becomes up to 35 mm long with a max. Thickness of only 3 mm. The brownish to blackish stigmas are relatively small and egg-shaped. The surface is only sparsely covered with brownish to black bristles.
The doll is provided with 17 to 23 mm length and a thickness of only 4 mm also be very thin to designate. The 6 body segment has a toothed transverse ridge on the ventral side, which has about 20 teeth in the middle and which are joined by about eight smaller teeth on each side. The back of the doll has a pronounced row of thorns. The crest of the belly side is connected to the row of thorns on the back side by a ridge. The extensions on the 5th segment, on the other hand, are more rounded and laterally merge into a sharp edge.
Similar species
There is a certain similarity to the dock rootworm ( Triodia sylvina (Linnaeus, 1761)). This species flies much later in the year. The fore wings are wider, and the apex is more pointed. The drawing also differs significantly, the moths are mostly red-brown. However, there are also brown-gray specimens. Most of the time the drawing is thinner, more blurred and almost never broken up into rows of dots.
distribution
The distribution area of the small hop rootworm extends from Spain in the west to Central Asia in the east. In the north the area boundary runs through the south of Scandinavia , in the south the distribution area ends in Sicily and Greece . The species is also native to the British Isles , but is not found in Corsica , Sardinia and Crete .
The butterfly is often found in meadows, on the edges of forests, in gardens and parklands, but also in ruderal areas and fallow land.
Way of life
The small hop rootworm is likely to make one generation per year as a rule. In breeding it has been observed that some individuals also have a two-year development period. The moths fly between mid-May and early July. They are crepuscular and nocturnal and also fly to artificial light sources . In some flight areas, males were observed as early as midday as they flew in stormy flight over slopes with limestone grasslands. At dusk, the females sit with their wings fluttering in the vegetation and use pheromones to attract the males. Pairing takes about 30 minutes. The male hangs upside down and freely on the female only by the copulatory organs. Both sexes are aligned equally.
The females distribute the eggs individually in the vegetation in fluttering flight during twilight. Occasionally, the eggs are also dropped into the vegetation during the day when the animals are fluttering in the vegetation. A total of 100 to 300 eggs are laid. The caterpillars hatch from the eggs in July and overwinter once or twice. They live on the roots, often tap roots or tubers of various plant species.
The caterpillars are polyphagous. They are often found on dock ( Rumex ), plantain ( Plantago ), hops ( Humulus ), nettles ( Urtica ), couch grass ( Agropyron ), wheat ( Triticum ), goldenrod ( Solidago ), daffodils ( Narcissus ), valerian ( Valeriana ), Lilac ( Syringa ), asters ( Aster ), potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum ), celery ( Apium ), "lettuce", carrots ( Daucus carota subsp. Sativus ), "peas" ( Pisum ), "beans" ( Paseolus ), garlic ( Allium sativum ), redcurrants ( Ribes ), alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ), delphinium ( Delphinium ), geranium ( Pelargonium ), chrysanthemums ( crysanthemum ), lily of the valley ( Convallaria ), gladiolus ( Gladiolus ), lilies ( Lilium ) Phlox ( Phlox ) Anemone ( Anemone ) and. Strawberries ( Fragaria ). However, they also eat at irises ( Iris ), peonies ( Paeonia ) and columbines ( Aquilegia ). The feeding behavior of the caterpillars is different; they can eat through the taproot of a plant or create hollows in plants with tubers or thicker roots.
Pupation takes place in April in a loose twisted tube between the roots of the host plant. This extends about 10 cm in depth and the doll can move up and down in it. Shortly before the butterfly hatches, the pupa moves to the upper end of the spine tube and slides halfway out of the tube.
Systematics and taxonomy
The species was first scientifically named as Phalaena Noctua lupulina in 1758 by Carl von Linné in the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae . The species is still often found in the literature under the name Hepialus lupulinus or Korscheltellus lupulinus . According to the current state of the system, the species cannot be placed in the genus Hepialus . Korscheltellus Börner, 1920 is, according to Leraut (2006) (see also Fauna Europaea), a more recent synonym for Pharmacis .
Harmful effect
In horticulture, the caterpillars are considered a pest on the strawberry. Damage to cultivated flowers is also common.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Lepidopterists working group Pro Natura (2000: S.)
- ↑ a b Speidel: Hepialidae. 1993, pp. 125-127
- ↑ a b Carter: Pest Lepidoptera of Europe ... 1984, pp. 32-34.
- ^ Leraut: Moths of Europe. 2006, p. 329.
literature
- David J. Carter: Pest Lepidoptera of Europe with special references to the British Isles. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht 1984, ISBN 90-6193-504-0 .
- Lepidopterists working group Pro Natura Swiss Confederation for Nature Conservation: Butterflies and their habitats. Species - Endangerment - Protection Volume 3 Hepialidae (root borer), Cossidae (wood borer), Sesiidae (glass winged borer), Thyrididae (window hawk), Lasiocampidae (mother hen), Lemoniidae (meadow moth), Endromidae (spring moth), Saturniidae (peacock moth), Saturniidae (peacock moth) ), Notodontidae (tooth moth), Thaumetopiadae (processionary moth), Dilobidae (blue-headed owl moth), Lymantriidae (bearer moth), Arctiidae (bear moth). Basel 2000, ISBN 3-85587-032-2 .
- Patrice Leraut: Moths of Europe. Volume I. Saturnids, Lasiocampids, Hawkmoths, Tigermoths ... NAP Editions, 2006, ISBN 2-913688-07-1 .
- Wolfgang Speidel: Hepialidae. In: Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 3. Moths I (root borer (Hepialidae), wood borer (Cossidae), ram (Zygaenidae), snail moth (Limacodidae), sack bearer (Psychidae), window spot (Thyrididae)). Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-8001-3472-1 , pp. 120-138.
annotation
- ↑ The genus Pharmacis is feminine, from ancient Greek. ή φαρμακίς = sorceress, poisoner. According to the rules of the International Rules for Zoological Nomenclature , the ending of the species name must be adapted accordingly.
Web links
- Pharmacis lupulina in Fauna Europaea
- Lepiforum e. V. Photos