Four-point small clamp
| Four-point small clamp | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Four-point spanner ( Scopula immutata ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Scopula immutata | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The four-point small spanner ( Scopula immutata ), also called the small plantain spanner , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the spanner family (Geometridae).
features
The moths reach a wingspan of 22 to 25 millimeters; the second generation in the south and moths in the north of the distribution area only reach 19 to 23 millimeters. The basic color is white with yellow over-dusting of varying intensity. The intensity of over-dusting is particularly greater in males than in females. Drought and high temperatures during pupal development induce more yellowish moths with more pronounced markings. The wavy transverse lines are yellowish to light brown in color. As a rule, the inner cross line, central band and outer cross line are formed, and occasionally a wavy line and hem line. The wavy line, if present, is often broadly blurred. Discal spots are always present, but they can be much weaker on the front wings. Hem marks are only occasionally formed, which are then also quite small and inconspicuous.
The egg is relatively long, cylindrical and rounded at both ends. The outside shows 15 strong longitudinal ribs and 15 to 18 slightly finer transverse ribs. It is initially yellow-white in color and later turns light red, shortly before the egg caterpillars hatch, purple-red spots appear.
The caterpillar is gray to brown in color. It is relatively slim and becomes a little thinner towards the head. The light and narrow back lines are each accompanied by a dark line. These lines widen in the segment incisions. The yellowish side stripes are usually only weakly developed. The flattened head is brownish in color.
The pupa is colored light brown, the two ends are a little darker. It measures eight to nine millimeters in length and 3.6 to 3.9 millimeters in diameter. The wing sheaths are a little lighter to slightly greenish. The cremaster is relatively large, rounded and wedge-shaped in the lateral view. It is a little shorter (or the same length) as it is wide at the base.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the four-point small spanner is typically moderate to boreal. It extends from the French west coast and the British Isles to the Urals. In the north it goes to central Scandinavia, in the south to central Italy and southern Bulgaria. However, these latter occurrences are isolated from the main population and restricted to higher regions. There is also an isolated, very small occurrence in northern Portugal and northeastern Spain, as well as evidence in Corsica and Sardinia . However, these findings have yet to be confirmed. Outside Europe, the distribution extends over the Caucasus region, Kazakhstan , southern Siberia, Mongolia to the Far East and Sakhalin .
The species is moisture-loving and therefore prefers to be found in moist forests, swamps, moors, moist meadows and along rivers. In the vertical, the type of sea level occurs up to about 700 meters. In the Alps and southern Europe it rises to around 1200 meters, rarely even higher (max. 1850 meters so far).
Phenology and way of life
The kind uni- to bivoltin; ie one or two generations are trained depending on the region. From Northern and Eastern Germany and Northern Hungary to the Baltic States and north of it, only one generation is formed whose moths fly in a long flight period from mid-June to mid-August. An incomplete second generation is rarely formed in these areas, the moths of which fly from late August to mid-September. In the warmer regions of western and southern Germany, France and south of the Alps, the species forms two generations, whose moths fly between the two generations from mid-May to the end of September, with a short break in July. The long flight period is caused by the different rapid development of the caterpillars.
The caterpillars are extremely polyphagous and have been found on a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses . Are mentioned in the literature: Oxlip ( Primula elatior ), Dandelion ( Leontodon ), Taubnesseln ( Lamium ), Heath Dog-violet ( Viola canina ), plantain ( Plantago major ), Real medicinal valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ), plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ), Sedum album ( Sedum album ), Crepis paludosa ( Crepis paludosa ), dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ), bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ), heather ( Calluna vulgaris ), Yorkshire Fog ( Holcus lanatus ) Reed grass ( Phalaris arundinacea ), panicle grass ( Poa ), meadowsweet ( Filipendula ) and probably also fallen leaves. The breeding also succeeded with other plants, such as field mugwort ( Artemisia campestris ), mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris ), medium flax leaf ( Thesium linophyllon ), common groundwort ( Senecio vulgaris ), little meadowsweet ( Filipendula vulgaris ), common clematis ( Clematis vitalba) ), Loosestrife ( Lysimachia ), bird knotweed ( Polygonum aviculare ), hawthorns ( Crataegus ), garden lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ) and Mary's bellflower ( Campanula medium ).
The caterpillar overwinters and pupates in spring.
Systematics
The species was first scientifically described by Carl von Linné in 1758 under the name Phalaena Geometra immutata . It is currently divided into two subspecies, the nominotypical subspecies Scopula immutata immutata and Scopula immutata contramutata Prout, 1920. The latter can also be found in the literature as an independent species.
Danger
The species is generally not considered endangered in Germany. It is only classified as endangered in North Rhine-Westphalia (category 3). In Saarland it is potentially endangered (category 4) and in Hamburg it is in category 5, ie the species could be endangered if habitat deterioration continues.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b see red lists at science4you
- ↑ Jan Pactočka: The pupae of the tensioners (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) Central Europe: subfamily Sterrhinae. Bonn zoological contributions, 51 (4): 269-296, Bonn 2002 ISSN 0006-7172 PDF ( Memento of the original from May 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (2.9 MB)
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 (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg Volume 8, Nachtfalter VI (Spanner (Geometridae) 1st part), Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 2001. ISBN 3-8001-3497-7
- Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 .
- Axel Hausmann: The Geometrid moths of Europe, 2nd Sterrhinae. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2004, ISBN 87-88757-37-4
