Edge stain small tensioner

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Edge stain small tensioner
Marginal spot small spanner (Scopula marginepunctata)

Marginal spot small spanner ( Scopula marginepunctata )

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Sterrhinae
Tribe : Scopulini
Genre : Scopula
Type : Edge stain small tensioner
Scientific name
Scopula marginepunctata
( Goeze , 1781)

The scopula marginepunctata ( scopula marginepunctata ), and Gray Speckled Small Spanner is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the tensioner (Geometridae).

features

The moths of the nominate subspecies have a wingspan of 22 to 25 millimeters; occasionally females with a wingspan of up to 27 millimeters have also been observed. The following generation is mostly smaller and the specimens only reach about 18 millimeters wingspan. Basic color and wing pattern vary. The basic color is gray-white to light brown, with the wings being darkly dusted to different degrees. In Ticino there are darkened forms that were previously called a separate subspecies insubrica . The wing markings are dark gray to dark brown, depending on the basic color. The inner transverse line and the central band are usually not very clear. The central band is relatively wide, if present, but is often faded. The inner transverse line is often reduced to a row of dots. Usually only the outer transverse line is clearly developed and almost always very pronounced jagged, the tips of the jagged edges towards the fringing area are often even darker. At the front edge of the forewing, the transverse lines are often somewhat thickened, if indicated. The front edge itself can be a little darker than the basic color. In the border area there are usually four to five tooth-shaped, washed-out spots, of which the two penultimate are often very characteristically close together. The intensity of the individual transverse lines can be slightly different on the fore and hind wings. Hem marks, on the other hand, are usually present. Discal spots are almost always present on both the fore and hind wings.

The egg is elongated oval and flattened at the top. It is initially light yellow in color, shortly before the egg caterpillars hatch, it turns speckled red. The outside shows strong longitudinal ribs that intersect with somewhat weaker transverse ribs.

The caterpillar is relatively long and slender and becomes a little thinner towards the front. The segments are clearly constricted. It is gray-yellow to gray-brown in color with a dark back line. The back line is accompanied by black dots. The ventral side is a little darker, the stigmas black.

The pupa is light brown in color with slightly greenish wing sheaths. The head and rear end are a little darker. The segments are constricted relatively deep, the cremaster is relatively short and studded with bristles.

Occurrence

distribution

The species is widespread in Europe from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Urals in the east. In the north, the distribution area extends to the south coast of England, the southern Netherlands and the German Baltic coast. In parts of northern Germany, however, the species is absent. The species has been found in isolated occurrences on Bornholm , Skåne and the southern Baltic states. In the south it populates North Africa from Morocco in the west to Egypt. From there the distribution extends over the Middle East, Asia Minor, the Caucasus region, Northern Iran, Central Asia to Mongolia.

In North Africa, however, the nominate subspecies is replaced by the subspecies Scopula marginepunctata argillacea . This is light brown with relatively weak wing markings.

The subspecies Scopula marginepunctata terrigena occurs in Northern Iran, Central Asia and Mongolia, which is slightly larger than the nominate subspecies with a wingspan of 29 millimeters. The hem area and the central band are broad and slightly dark brown in color.

habitat

The species is xerothermophilic , which means that it prefers dry and warm habitats . In Central Europe the species occurs on sandy, stony or rocky subsoil. It colonizes open habitats such as rocky slopes, rows of hedges, abandoned vineyards, stone bars, limestone grasslands and slopes rich in herbs (e.g. short- grass sheep pastures). In Central Europe, the species occurs from the plain to the low mountain range up to approx. 800 m. In the Alps it rises to 1,800 m, in southern Europe to over 2,000 m and in Morocco and the Central Asian mountains to 2,700 m.

In southern Europe the species occurs almost everywhere and also quite numerous.

Phenology and way of life

The Randfleck-Kleinspanner is bivoltine , ie it trains two generations a year. The moths fly from mid-May to late June and from late July to late September. A third generation will probably fly under favorable conditions. The moths rest on stones and vegetation during the day. They are crepuscular and nocturnal, are attracted by artificial light sources and can also be baited. They suck nectar on various sedum ( Sedum ).

The caterpillars can be found in August (first generation) and from June to July (second generation). They feed polyphagous on various herbaceous plants. Gypsophila struthium , sand thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ), mountain germander ( Teucrium montanum ), oregano ( Origanum vulgare ), Gundermann ( Glechoma hederacea ), upright ziest ( Stachys recta ), mugwort Artemisia vulgarfolium , common sheep, Achillea are proven to be food plants , Usually horseshoe Klee ( Hippocrepis comosa ), vetch ( Vicia ), Gypsophila repens ( Gypsophila repens ), chickweed ( Stellaria ), plantains ( Plantago ), Galium ( Galium ), Real meadowsweet ( Filipendula ulmaria ), Potentilla reptans ( Potentilla reptans ), smartweed ( Polygonum aviculare ), valerian ( Valeriana ) and some sedum species such as Sedum album ( Sedum album ), Great stonecrop ( Sedum telephium ) and the rock stonecrop ( Sedum reflexum ). Were in breeding and dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), meadow sage ( Salvia pratensis ), garden lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ), Stellaria media ( Stellaria media ), Galium Mollugo ( Galium mollugo ), lady's bedstraw ( Galium verum ), clover ( Trifolium ) and Cranesbills ( Geranium ) eaten.

Systematics

The species was first scientifically described in 1781 by Johann August Ephraim Goeze as Phalaena Geometra marginepunctata . Due to the variability in basic color and drawing, there are still a number of synonyms

  • Phalaena Geometra coniugata Borkhausen, 1794
  • Phalaena aniculosata Rambur, 1829
  • Acidalia promutata Guenée, 1858
  • Acidalia apertaria Walker, 1863
  • Acidalia pastoraria de Joannis, 1891
  • Acidalia marginepunctata var. Madoniata Fuchs, 1901
  • Acidalia marginepunctata var. Britonaria Oberthür, 1917
  • Acidalia marginepunctata var. Subatrata Wagner, 1919
  • Acidalia marginepunctata f. insubrica Vorbrodt, 1930
  • Scopula marginepunctata argillacea Reisser, 1933
  • Scopula marginepunctata terrigena Prout, 1935

Currently the species is divided into three subspecies: the nominate subspecies Scopula marginepunctata marginepunctata Goeze, Scopula marginepunctata terrigena Prout, 1935 (Northern Iran, Central Asia and Mongolia) and Scopula marginepunctata argillacea Reisser, 1933 (North Africa; Morocco to Tunisia). The Scopula marginepunctata insubrica Vorbrodt, previously regarded as a subspecies, was reunited with the nominate subspecies by Hausmann in 1930.

Danger

The species is considered not endangered in Germany. However, in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony it is classified in the Red List of Threatened Species in Category 2 (highly endangered) and in Thuringia in Category 3 (endangered). In the Saarland it is considered lost.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ebert, pp. 130-3
  2. ↑ Forster & Wohlfahrt, p. 48
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hausmann, pp. 310–2
  4. ^ Butterflies in Germany, online http://www.schmetterlinge-deutschlands.de/start.php (accessed on September 22, 2006)
  5. ↑ Red lists at science4you

literature

  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .
  • Günter Ebert (Hrsg.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 8, Nachtfalter VI (Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part), Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 2001. ISBN 3-800-13497-7
  • 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
  • Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 .

Web links

Commons : Randfleck-Kleinspanner  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files