Scotopteryx chenopodiata
Brown -banded wave welts tensioner ( Scotopteryx chenopodiata )
The Brown -banded wave welts tensioner ( Scotopteryx chenopodiata ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ) and is classified in the subfamily Larentiinae.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 25-30 millimeters. Their coloration is highly variable. The base color ranges from yellow-brown, on light brown, reddish brown and gray-brown to gray. The front wings have several, mostly parallel -brown to dark brown, jagged cross lines that are different distinct. Striking is a broad dark brown band running de forewing in the center and the edges are also jagged. The males have highly combed sensor, while the females are thready.
The light gray, later darkening shiny egg is round and is provided on the surface with a network structure.
The caterpillar is yellowish gray to slate gray. The back line is dark and broken, the side panels are bright and continuous.
The maroon shiny doll has a dotted surface. The cremaster is wide, with two long hooked spines and two fine, rolled up at the top lateral bristles.
Dissemination
The Brown -banded wave welts tensioner is to be found from the Iberian Peninsula through Europe to the Far East of Russia ( Sakhalin Island ). In the north of its range extends into the northern Fennoscandia, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula over Italy, the Balkans to Central Asia ( Altai Mountains).
Habitat
The species can be found virtually everywhere. However, it is especially common on slightly drier and natural sites. It occurs in almost all height levels up to the mountains at 2000 m altitude before.
Way of life
The caterpillar overwinters which pupate in the soil.
The moths are diurnal and nocturnal. During the day, they like to suck on flowers at night they come to light. When searching for nectar, the butterflies were observed, among others, the following plants:
- Marsh knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa )
- Meadow knapweed (Centaurea jacea )
- Field Scabious ( Knautia arvensis)
- Forest scabious ( knautia dipsacifolia )
- Pigeon - Scabiosa ( Scabiosa columbaria )
- Creeping Thistle ( Cirsium arvense)
- Cabbage thistle ( Cirsium oleraceum )
- Medicinal thyme (Thymus pulegioides )
- Great burnet ( Sanguisorba officinalis)
- Common agrimony ( Eupatorium cannabinum )
- Mountain mint ( Calamintha clinopodium )
- Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea )
- Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca )
Flight times and caterpillars
The animals fly in one generation from about June to August, in higher layers of July to August. The caterpillars can be found in August. They overwinter and are continuing to grow in June of the following year.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on the following food plants:
- Viersamige vetch (Vicia tetrasperma )
- Fence Vetch (Vicia sepium )
- Meadow grass pea ( Lathyrus pratensis)
- Bear pepper ( Astragalus glycyphyllos )
- Dyer's broom ( Genista tinctoria )
- Bird vetch (Vicia cracca )