Blemish (lepidopterology)
A blemish ( Latin macula , 'spot') in butterfly studies ( lepidopterology ) is a spot on a butterfly's wing that can be helpful for determining the species, especially in owl butterflies . Depending on the position on the wing, one differentiates:
- Ring flaw: A mostly round, occasionally elongated flaw in the central cell of the forewing. It can be open towards the front edge or reduced to a small point.
- Kidney Flaw : A mostly elongated, often kidney-shaped flaw at the end of the middle cell of the fore wing. It can be colored similar to the ring flaws or it can be the dominant drawing element.
- Tenon flaw: A mostly elongated flaw that protrudes from the inner transverse line into the middle field. It can be reduced to a dark point at its tip or connected to the outer transverse line by a black line.
Examples
Perigrapha i-cinctum : The large, bright, outer, kidney-shaped spot on the forewings is the kidney flaw. The light spot in the center cell, which shows the shape of an 8, is the ring flaw. A tenon flaw of this type is missing.
Ulochlaena hirta : The yellow-brown, kidney-shaped spot is the kidney blemish. The yellow-brown, teardrop-shaped spot is the ring flaw. The yellow-brown, elongated mark below the ring flaw is the cone flaw.
Mountain steppe earth owl ( Euxoa recussa ): The light brown, kidney-shaped spot is the kidney flaw. The light brown, almost circular spot is the ring flaw. The black, elongated mark below the ring flaw is the tenon flaw.
Exclamation mark ( Agrotis exclamationis ): The large, kidney-shaped, dark brown-edged spot open towards the front edge is the kidney defect. The circular, dark brown-edged spot, open towards the front edge, is the ring flaw. The black, elongated mark below the ring flaw is the tenon flaw.
Web links
- Axel Steiner: Identification aid for the butterfly species detected in Europe. May 22, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2017 .