Balsam leaf tensioner
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Balsam leaf tensioner ( Xanthorhoe biriviata ) |
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| ( Borkhausen , 1794) |
The balsam leaf-tensioner ( Xanthorhoe biriviata ) is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the tensioners (Geometridae).
features
The moths reach a wingspan of 20 to 25 millimeters. The moths of the first generation are lighter in color than those of the second generation. The midfield is gray on the forewings and black towards the edges. The root field and the inner transverse band are brownish. The outer transverse tie, in contrast, is white and is divided by a thin gray line. The apex of the fore wings is blackish, the interior angle is gray. In the middle of the M 3 vein there is a pointed extension that points in the direction of the outer edge of the wing. The discal spot is black and linear. The second generation moths are darkened to a brownish color and the outer transverse band is less contrasting. The antennae of the males are toothed and have two rows of sensory hairs on the antennae .
In the males, the uncus is very long and narrow. The valves have a tooth-shaped extension at the distal end of the costa. The saccule is two thirds as long as the valves. The process of the saccus is small and narrow. The aedeagus is long and slender.
In the females the antevaginal lamella is almost square and furrowed across. The antrum is sclerotized , the ductus bursae is wide and membranous. The signum is about one millimeter long and has thin needles.
Similar species
In the similar species, Xanthorhoe designata ( Hufnagel , 1767), the transverse lines are more curved and the middle field is tinged pink.
distribution
The balsam leaf tensioner occurs in Europe and Asia and has a disjoint distribution area. In Europe it extends in the temperate zone from the south of England to the southern Urals . The species is absent in the extreme north of Europe and in the lowlands of southern Europe. Isolated populations exist in western Europe and in the northernmost areas of southern Europe . The species is widespread and common in the spruce forest zones of the northern European taiga belt , the Tatras , the Carpathians and the Alps. The finds from the Iberian Peninsula south of the Pyrenees are questionable.
Outside of Europe, the distribution area extends from northeast Turkey to the Caucasus , the Transcaucasus and Kazakhstan . The species is absent in most of the Siberian regions, but is found in Kamchatka , in the south of the Primorye region , in Korea and in Japan . In East Asia, the nominate form is replaced by the subspecies Xanthorhoe biriviata angularia ( Leech , 1897).
Xanthorhoe biriviata is a moisture-loving forest dweller that is found in mixed and deciduous forests with abundant occurrences of the host plant. The species is found on streams and rivers, in shady places in valleys, in forest fringes and in gardens. Xanthorhoe biriviata is a species of the lowlands and rises up to 1000 meters, in the Alps and on the Balkan Peninsula it is found up to 1500 meters. Bergmann describes the butterfly as "the main species of forest spring herb meadows at forest springs and forest streams on shady slopes and wet gorges in rocky valleys of the mountains".
Biology and exposure
The caterpillars live monophagous on wild occurrences of the greater balsam ( Impatiens noli-tangere ). Under breeding conditions, small balsam ( Impatiens parviflora ) was also accepted from the caterpillars . Dating from Asia Himalayan Balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ) does not seem to be suitable as caterpillars plant. In England , the main food plant is the orange-red balsam ( Impatiens capensis ) introduced from North America . The moths are both diurnal and nocturnal and like to suck water and minerals from moist soil or mammalian excrement. Flower visits were observed on hairy calf's goiter ( Chaerophyllum hirsutum ), meadow hogweed ( Heracleum sphondylium ), giant goldenrod ( Solidago gigantea ), common water canine ( Eupatorium cannabinum ), red honeysuckle ( Lonicera xylosteum ) ( Salix capreasteum ) and willow . During the day the moths rest on trunks, they come to light at night . The species forms two generations per year, which fly from mid-April to early June and from mid-June to late August. Caterpillars are found from May to September. The generations often overlap, for example in the Rhine Valley. The second generation is incomplete in the north of the distribution area and in higher elevations.
The caterpillar fly Aphantoraphopsis siphonoides ( Thompson , 1976) parasitizes on the caterpillars of the balsam leaf tensioner. The balsam leaf tensioner is potentially endangered because the number of individuals is reduced due to the continued spread of the neophyte Impatiens glandulifera .
Systematics
The species is genetically homogeneous in Europe and Asia. Two subspecies are recognized:
- Xanthorhoe biriviata biriviata ( Borkhausen , 1794)
- Xanthorhoe biriviata angularia ( Leech , 1897)
The closest related species is Xanthorhoe lacustrata ( Guenée , 1858), which is native to North America.
The following synonyms are known from the literature :
- Phalaena Geometra biriviata Borkhausen , 1794
- Cidaria pomoeriaria Eversmann , 1844
- Larentia abditaria Herrich-Schäffer , 1855
- Cidaria pomoeriaria var. (Gen.) Aestiva Fuchs , 1884. Is considered by Scoble , 1999 as a subspecies Xanthorhoe biriviata aestiva ( Fuchs , 1884) and downgraded to a synonym by Hausmann & Viidalepp in 2012 due to the lack of significant distinguishing features.
- Cidaria angularia Leech , 1897
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Axel Hausmann, Jaan Viidalepp: The Geometrid Moths of Europe . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 3: Larentiinae II . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2012, ISBN 978-87-88757-39-2 , pp. 103 (English).
- ^ Skinner, Bernard (1998): The Color Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles (Macrolepidoptera). Penguin Books 1998, ISBN 0-670-87978-9 , p. 26
- ↑ Leraut, Patrice (2009): Moths of Europe. Volume 2. Geometrid Moths. NAP Editions, 2009, ISBN 978-2-913688-09-4 , p. 592
- ↑ Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 , p. 357.
- ↑ a b c Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg . 1st edition. tape 8 . Moth VI. Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3497-7 , pp. 245 .
- ↑ Guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Balsam Carpet Xanthorhoe biriviata (Borkhausen, 1794). Ian Kimber, accessed August 19, 2014 .
- ↑ Steiner, Axel; Ratzel, Ulrich; Top-Jensen, Morten; Fibiger, Michael (2014): The moths of Germany. A field leader. Bugbook Publishing 2014, ISBN 978-3-00-043862-2 , p. 143
- ^ Scoble, Malcolm J. (1999): Geometrid moths of the world. A catalog (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Apollo Books, Stenstrup, ISBN 0-643-06304-8 , p. 962
Web links
- Xanthorhoe biriviata (BORKHAUSEN, 1794) - balsam leaf tensioner. Lepiforum e. V .: Determination aid of the Lepiforum for the butterfly species found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, accessed on August 18, 2014 .
- Xanthorhoe biriviata in Fauna Europaea