Willow buds

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Willow buds
(1811) Slender Pug (Eupithecia tenuiata) (18615838558) .jpg

Willow buds ( Eupithecia tenuiata )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Spanner (Geometridae)
Subfamily : Larentiinae
Genre : Moth ( Eupithecia )
Type : Willow buds
Scientific name
Eupithecia tenuiata
( Huebner , 1813)

The willow-Pug ( Eupithecia tenuiata ) sometimes, even sallow-pug called, is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the tensioner (Geometridae). The specific epithet is based on the Latin word tenius meaning "tender" and refers to the small, delicate appearance of the butterfly.

features

butterfly

The moths reach a wingspan of 14 to 19 millimeters and are therefore one of the small moth species . All wings have a gray-yellow to ash-gray basic color. Freshly hatched specimens show a clear black-brown discal spot on the upper side of the forewing, which is enclosed by the inner transverse line, which bends at right angles towards the root. Further transverse lines stand out only indistinctly. The apex is strongly rounded.

Caterpillar, pupa

The caterpillars are light brown to greenish in color and show a dark brown back line and mostly double, interrupted side stripes of the same color.

The pupa is amber in color, the wing sheaths often shimmer slightly green. The Kremaster has a total of eight hook bristles.

Similar species

In newly hatched moths of the field maple moth ( Eupithecia inturbata ) the transverse lines stand out clearly, the inner one is only slightly bent. The apex is less rounded.

In the case of specimens that have flown away, a clear identification can often only be achieved by means of a genital morphological examination.

Distribution and occurrence

The distribution of the species extends from Western Europe including the British Isles across Central and Northern Europe, Poland and the Baltic States to the Caucasus . In the south it was also found in Italy and Spain . The species primarily inhabits swamp and riparian forests, river banks and wetlands.

Way of life

The crepuscular and nocturnal moths fly from June to August. At night they rarely fly to artificial light sources or bait . The females lay the eggs one by one in the bark cracks of branches of different types of willow ( Salix ), where they overwinter. The caterpillars hatch in the spring of the following year and feed on pussy willow , in which they also hide. The male pussy willow are clearly preferred. The most likely explanation for this behavior is that the caterpillars are fully grown as the kittens wither, which at that very time (with the caterpillars as passengers) fall to the ground. The caterpillars always pupate on or in the ground. Female kittens, however, stay longer on the tree. The caterpillars that live there, mature to pupation, would have to drop unprotected in order to reach the ground, abseil themselves on a silk thread or take a longer walk to the ground. Various types of willow are named as food plants for the caterpillars, primarily sal willow ( Salix caprea ), gray willow ( Salix cinerea ) or ear willow ( Salix aurita ).

Danger

The willow moth is mostly widespread and numerous in Germany and is classified as "not endangered" on the Red List of Endangered Species .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Arnold Spuler: The butterflies of Europe , Volume 2, E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, 1910, p. 80
  2. ↑ Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English). , Pp. 77-79
  3. ↑ Walter Forster , Theodor A. Wohlfahrt : The butterflies of Central Europe. Volume 5: Spanner. (Geometridae). Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04951-5 , pp. 141-142.
  4. ↑ a b c d Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 . , Pp. 94-98
  5. ↑ Endangerment

literature

  • Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World . In: Axel Hausmann (Ed.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe . 1st edition. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini . Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4 (English).
  • Günter Ebert (Ed.): The butterflies of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 9. Moths VII. Geometridae 2nd part . 1st edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3279-6 .
  • Arno Bergmann: The large butterflies of Central Germany. Volume 5/1: Spanner. Distribution, forms and communities. Urania-Verlag, Jena 1955, DNB 450378403 .
  • Manfred Koch , Wolfgang Heinicke, Bernd Müller: We determine butterflies. Volume 4: Spanner. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Neumann, Leipzig / Radebeul 1976, DNB 780451570 .

Web links

Commons : Willow Moth  - Collection of images, videos and audio files