Ascalenia vanelloides

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

Features

The moths reach a wingspan of 7-8 millimeters. Head, thorax and tegulae shining greyish brown and have scales with paler tips. The fore wings shining gray-brown and speckled gray. The scales have especially at 2/ 3 of the forewing length bright peaks, so that a very faint binding is formed. A dark spot is located at 1 /3 of the forewing length in the anal fold, another at 2/ 3 in the wing center. The hind wings shine light gray. The abdomen shining gray-brown. The after tuft is grayish white in males, in females it shines white and gray is subapical darker.

In the male the uncus is long and strong and has a curved tip. The Valven are slender and slightly curved. They taper distally. Rows to hair-like bristles, two very long bristles are located on the inner surface are located on the outer surface in proximity to the grassroots. The aedeagus is short and curved. It tapers distally strong.

In females, the slit-shaped bulge of the seventh sternite is large and U-shaped. It is extended on both sides to an extension with a net-like structure. In the middle of this extension is provided with needles. The early edge of the sixth sternite is emarginate deep in the center. On both sides of the ostium is a thorns occupied with cusps, which merges into a curved and widening bead. The ductus bursae runs in four loops. The stiffening of the ductus bursae band is at the ostium narrow and widens in the direction of the corpus bursae. The corpus bursae is provided round and with two small double-headed Signa.

Similar Species

Ascalenia vanelloides similar Ascalenia Vanella and Ascalenia echidnias. A reliable species identification is possible only by a genital examination.

Dissemination

Ascalenia vanelloides is in Asia Minor, the Middle East and Central Asia, spread as far east as Afghanistan. After Fauna Europaea species occurs also in Sicily and Cyprus.

Biology

The biology of the species is unknown. Kasy suspects that develop caterpillars Prosopis farcta because at the scene only grew Alhagi species. In the abdomen of a female head capsule of a bead was found, apparently due Ovoviviparie ago. The moths fly from April to August, probably evolved more than a generation.

System

There are known the following synonyms:

  • Ascalenia eremella Amsel, 1933; Nomen nudum
  • Ascalenia eremella Amsel, 1935

Documents

  • Chrysopeleiidae
  • Chrysopeleiidae (Family)
Genus Tegula (insect anatomy) Scale (Lepidopteran anatomy)
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