Brown-gray corner wing tensioner
Brown-gray corner wing tensioner | ||||||||||||
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Brown-gray corner wing spanner ( Macaria signaria ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Macaria signaria | ||||||||||||
( Huebner , 1809) |
The brown-gray corner wing wrench ( Macaria signaria , syn .: Semiothisa signaria ) is a butterfly from the family of the spanners (Geometridae). The species name is derived from the Latin word signum with the meaning "sign" and refers to the black-brown blemish on the upper side of the forewing.
features
butterfly
The wingspan of the moth is 23 to 31 millimeters. There is no sexual dimorphism between the sexes . The outer edge of the forewings is rounded and not indented. In the vicinity of the apex , a large black-brown spot and a blemish of the same color underneath stand out clearly on the front edge . In contrast, three dark transverse lines are usually less clearly defined. All wings have a light gray to brown-gray basic color and are provided with fine dark horizontal lines. On the upper side of the hind wing there are more or less distinct narrow dark gray cross bars. Tail-like elongated tips at the anal angle are only faintly indicated or missing.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars have a dark green color, thin whitish dorsal and secondary dorsal lines, a wide white or yellow lateral stripe and two broad brown longitudinal stripes on the outer head capsule. With this combination of colors and in a stretched, resting posture head down to the branch, they imitate the shine of a pine needle in a deceptively real way. This means that they are well protected from predators.
Similar species
In the light gray corner wing spanner ( Macaria notata ) and in the dark gray corner wing spanner ( Macaria alternata ), the outer edge of the forewings is concave below the apex. In addition, both types show a clear peak at the anal angle .
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the brown-gray corner wing spanner extends through Europe, including the British Isles to Kamchatka and Japan . In the north, the occurrence extends to the Arctic Circle . The species is also found in North America. The main habitat are spruce and mixed forests. It was also found on spruce trees in gardens. In the northern Alps , the brown-gray corner wing spanner rises to 1500 meters, in the southern Alps to 1700 meters.
Way of life
The moths are mostly nocturnal and fly in one generation between May and August. At night they appear on artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed on the needles of the Norway spruce ( Picea abies ). They hibernate in the doll camp, occasionally as a finished doll .
Individual evidence
- ^ Arnold Spuler: The butterflies of Europe , Volume 2, E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, 1910, p. 97
- ↑ a b c Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. 1st edition. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part. 1 Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim), 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 , pp. 322-325
- ↑ dissemination
- ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 , p. 223
- ↑ flight times
- ↑ Manfred Koch , Wolfgang Heinicke, Bernd Müller: We determine butterflies. Volume 4: Spanner. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1976, DNB 780451570 , pp. 214/215
Web links
- Lepiforum e. V. - Taxonomy and photos
- butterfliesandmoths - Found in North America
- natur-schmetterlinge.ch - nature butterflies
- ukmoths - Dusky Peacock at UKmoths
- kolumbus.fi - caterpillar