Ascalenia antiqua

Ascalenia antiquarian is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of Chrysopeleiidae.

Features

The moths reach a wingspan of 10 millimeters. The head is mottled brownish gray and light gray at the top of the shed. The sensors shine gray and ringed clearly dark. The thorax and tegulae are ocher- gray gray and postero- laterally. The forewings are mottled dark gray and light gray at the top of the shed. The latter are also the very faint drawing. At 1/ 3 of the forewing length is up and directly above the anal fold an indistinct dark spot. The bottom is a little further away from the wing base and the outside margins grayish white. A similar spot is located in the wing center at 2/ 3 of the forewing length, it is edged on both sides grayish white. On the Costa loader is a small gray white spot, a similar but larger spot is located at the inner angle. The fringe scales are brownish gray, ocher- gray on the Costa loader gray white and towards the wing inner edge. The hind wings shine light gray and ocher have gray scales. The abdomen is dorsally brownish gray, the segments are back banded pale. Ventral it is provided brownish gray and ocher with a broad white longitudinal line. The after tuft is white ocher.

In the male the uncus is short and pointed. The Valven are large and wide, the outer edge is convex. On the inner surface there are rows of coarse bristles, in the middle of spring two long and curved bristles. The aedeagus is strong, rather short and straight. It tapers distally.

The genital armature of females resembles that of Ascalenia Vanella, but the slit-shaped bulge of the seventh sternite is wider and much longer. The fold of the sixth sternite is clearly triangular. The labels are square and have sides oval reticular spots that are larger on the inner side of the fold.

Dissemination

Ascalenia antiquarian is widespread in Israel and Egypt.

Biology

The caterpillars live in the branches of Tamarix aphylla. Kasy indicates that the caterpillars live in plant galls of Eriophyes species and pupate there too. The few become known specimens of the species were grown from September to January.

Documents

• Chrysopeleiidae
• Chrysopeleiidae (Family)