Problepsis ocellata
| Problepsis ocellata | ||||||||||||
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Problepsis ocellata , female |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Problepsis ocellata | ||||||||||||
| ( Friváldszky , 1845) |
Problepsis ocellata is a butterfly ( moth ) fromthe Spanner family (Geometridae).
description
butterfly
The wingspan of the moths is 29 to 37 millimeters for the females and 28 to 33 millimeters for the males. Specimens with a smaller wingspan come from a second generation. The fore and hind wing upper sides have an ivory white basic color. In the submarginal region delimited by a black-brown transverse line, there are two chain-like rows each made up of dark brown spots. The basal region of the forewings is delimited by a brown transverse line. The eye spots ( Latin : ocellus = small eye) on all wings, which are also responsible for the choice of the epithet , are typical of the species . Those on the forewings are almost circular, bordered black-brown and divided into two parts, the upper half being light and the lower half almost black. Directly below these eye spots there is another large, irregular brown spot that extends to the inner edge . The eye-spots on the hind wings are oval, bordered in brown, light inside and provided with weak dark shadows. The antennae of the males are combed on both sides, those of the females are thread-shaped.
egg
The egg has a flat oval shape and is covered with a net-like structure. Immediately after being laid it is green, but after two days it takes on a pink color with reddish spots and is colored lead-gray shortly before the caterpillars hatch.
Caterpillar
Young caterpillars are initially dull green to olive green in color and show indistinct brownish shadows on the back and a honey-yellow head. Adult animals can be up to 45 millimeters long. Their basic color is whitish with a very thick lilac-gray sprinkling, the head is brownish. The chest segments are narrower than the rest of the body, which is slightly wrinkled. The anal valve is triangular. The stigmas are black and yellowish inside. Shortly before pupation, the caterpillar takes on a greenish color with pink tints.
Doll
The pupa is greenish at first and later takes on a red-brown color. There are two small bumps on the cremaster , each with a strong bristle.
distribution and habitat
Problepsis ocellata occurs in the extreme southeast of Europe, also on the islands of Crete , Naxos and Cyprus . Outside Europe, the species has been found in Asia Minor , Syria , Lebanon , Palestine , Pakistan and Afghanistan . The main habitat are olive groves.
Way of life
The moths form two generations per year, which can be found from May to July or August and September. They like to visit artificial light sources at night . The caterpillars feed on the leaves of olive trees ( Olea ). Privet leaves ( Ligustrum ) are also accepted as substitute feed for breeding .
swell
literature
- Axel Hausmann: The Geometrid moths of Europe, 2nd Sterrhinae. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2004, ISBN 87-88757-37-4
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Axel Hausmann: The Geometrid Moths of Europe, 2. Sterrhinae. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2004, ISBN 87-88757-37-4
- ^ Arnold Spuler: The butterflies of Europe , Volume 2, E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart (E. Nägele), 1910
- ↑ a b c d Hans Reisser: Contributions to the knowledge of the Sterrhinae (Lep. Geom.) III.1) About Problepsis ocellata Friv. and their first estates. , Journal of the Vienna Entomological Society, 42nd year, 1957
Web links
- Lepiforum e. V. - Taxonomy and photos
- www.nic.funet.fi - dissemination
- lepidoptera.eu - Occurrence in Europe
- Problepsis ocellata in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved November 21, 2014