Coniferous buds

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Coniferous buds
Eupithecia tantillaria.jpg

Conifer moth ( Eupithecia tantillaria )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Larentiinae
Genre : Eupithecia
Type : Coniferous buds
Scientific name
Eupithecia tantillaria
Boisduval , 1840

The eupithecia tantillaria ( Eupithecia tantillaria ), also spruce Pug called, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the tensioner (Geometridae).

features

butterfly

The moths reach a wingspan of 14 to 22 millimeters. The narrow forewings usually have a glossy, light gray base color with dark gray to brownish wavy lines that continue on the hind wings, a clear, mostly elongated center point and along the edge have a narrow, light band that is darkly bordered. Sometimes there are also darkened specimens with less prominent drawing elements. There is an angled center line on the hind wings.

Caterpillar

The caterpillars are light brown to chocolate brown in color and have a broad, dark back stripe. As a result, they resemble dead, dried-up needles in a certain way and are thus inconspicuous on their host conifers and well protected from predators.

Similar species

Eupithecia analoga also lives in coniferous forests and has similar drawing elements as tantillaria , but can be distinguished by the larger and rounder discal spot on the forewings and the evenly rounded center line on the somewhat darker hind wings.

As with many flowering species, a reliable determination should be carried out by specialists, and a genital morphological analysis is also advisable for clear identification.

Geographical distribution and occurrence

The distribution ranges from Western Europe and the British Isles east to Russia, Ukraine , Georgia and the Altai Mountains. In Fennoscandinavia the species penetrates as far as Lapland , but it is absent in Iceland . The southern expansion includes Italy , the Balkan Peninsula , Turkey , Asia Minor and the Caucasus . The conifer moth, on the other hand, is absent in the south and in the center of Spain, in Portugal and on the Mediterranean islands. The species is sometimes common in areas with coniferous trees. In the Alps it rises to the tree line .

Way of life

The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal. They sometimes suckle on moist places on the forest floor or on the flowers of various umbelliferous species ( Apiaceae ) and appear in both sexes also on artificial light sources . The main flight time is from April to June. In the south, a second generation sometimes flies in August. The caterpillars live mainly in June and July and feed primarily on the fresh needles of spruce ( Picea abiesis ), larch ( Larix decidua ) or Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ). The pupae overwinter.

Danger

In Germany, the conifer moth is widespread and mostly not uncommon. It is therefore listed as not endangered on the Red List of Endangered Species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English).
  2. ↑ a b c Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 .
  3. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 .
  4. ↑ Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Ed.): Red List of Endangered Animals in Germany . Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster 1998, ISBN 3-89624-110-9 .

literature

  • Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English).
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 .

Web links

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