Evergestis limbata
Evergestis limbata
Evergestis limbata is a butterfly of the family Crambidae. The species is widespread central and southern Europe and currently expanding their range northward from.
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of about 22 mm. The head and the body is light gray, the color of the forewings is light brown to pale red, with a darker veining. In particular, the cell is often very pronounced. The inner transverse line runs at a slight angle. However, it is almost straight and has a slight bulge at the front edge. The outer transverse line is clearly slanted and is angled near the leading edge. The Diskalfleck is outlined in more or less triangular and darker. A dark, wedge-shaped patch extending from the outer transverse line to the cell. The outfield is always much darker than the base color and gray-brown to almost dark reddish brown depending on the color. However, it is usually a bit brighter than the two transverse lines. The fringes are usually slightly darker than the outfield. The caterpillars are pale and have a slightly darker top. The head is light brown.
Occurrence and habitat
The species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula in the west, across southern and central Europe to the Southern Eastern Europe. She seems unable to spread to the North. 1967 first specimens were found in Denmark. In 1990, she was found on the Channel Island of Guernsey. Meanwhile, individual specimens were also detected in the south of England, for the first time in 1993. It is unclear if there have already established a population, or whether they are migrants from mainland Europe. Given the increasing density Fund probably the latter seems more likely. In southern Sweden, the species seems to have become too down to earth, 2001, she was also detected in southern Finland. Evergestis limbata lives on dry to moist, open or bushy plants and also in the cultivated land.
Phenology and life
Two generations are formed per year, the moths of the first generation fly in May and June, the moths of the second from July to September. The moths are nocturnal and come to artificial light sources. The caterpillars eat the leaves of rauks ( Sisymbrium ), Alliaria, Schöterichen ( Erysimum ) and woad ( Isatis tinctoria ). Presumably, the caterpillars can feed also on other cruciferous plants ( Cruciferae). The autumn caterpillars overwinter in a cocoon and pupate in the spring.
Taxonomy
The species was described in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus, under the name Phalaena Geometra limbata first time scientifically. It was described again in 1820 under the name Mesographe praetextalis by Jacob Hübner, Achille Guenee led 1854 Pionea limbalis. The latter names are junior synonyms of Evergestis limbata ( Linnaeus, 1767). Currently, two subspecies are distinguished: the Nominatunterart E. limbata limbata and E. limbata delimbata Osthelder, 1940, which is restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. It differs from the Nominatunterart by the external field, which is similar dyed the base color. Guenée