Ascalenia viviparella

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

Features

The moths reach a wingspan 7-10 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae shining greyish brown, the scales have here bright peaks. The sensors shine gray. The forewings are mottled gray-brown and light gray at the tips of scales. An indistinct and irregular Subcostalstrich extends from the wing base up to 1 /3 of the forewing length. He is partially curved in the direction of anal fold, these crosses in the middle, but does not extend to the wing inner edge. Another Subcostalstrich is located at half the forewing length. An irregular, zigzag -shaped, light gray binding is located at 3 /4 of the forewing length. The apical area of the forewing is more colored light gray, the fringe scales shine light gray. The hind wings also shine light gray. In the females are located on the inner angle of the front wing underside some great dark gray scales. The hind wings are provided in the middle of Dorsalbereichs with a number of large, dark gray scales. The abdomen shines light gray, with the females, the segments are six and seven laterally and ventrally blackish. The drawing of the front wing is very variable, the bars and bandages may like the bright speckles be more or less pronounced, so that confusion with other similar species is possible.

In the male the uncus is long and strong. He has a blunt hook-shaped tip. The Valven are long and tapering in the distal half slightly. The notch at the apex is surrounded on the outside by a strongly sclerotized rim, inside are different long coarse bristles. Two large and strongly curved bristles are located at the base. The aedeagus is long and slender. It is bent in front of the middle and has two short pins of different lengths. The first is located dorsolaterally located in the middle. The second is smaller and is located at the apex.

In females, the slit-shaped bulge of the seventh sternite is U-shaped, the rear half is sclerotized. The fold of the sixth sternite is large and trapezoidal. The ostium is wide and round, it is surrounded by two large side shields with reticular structure. They are tapered in the middle and are bent at an acute angle to the outside. The ductus bursae is short and broad, he proceeds in several turns. In the middle of a sklerotisiertes longitudinal band which is particularly pronounced in the direction of the orifice extends. The corpus bursae is egg-shaped and has two small, often bicuspid Signa.

Dissemination

Ascalenia viviparella is located in the most south-eastern areas of Europe (Crimea, south of the Ural Mountains ). In addition, the species is also found in Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, in southern Russia, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia and Central Asia in the East prior to Mongolia. In deserts and semi-deserts, the species is common.

Biology

The caterpillars develop on Calligonum Junceum, Calligonum setosum and Calligonum leucocladum. They live from late spring until the second half of the summer in the shoots and fruits of host plants. It makes two generations per year, the moths can be found throughout the year. They overwinter in the construction of various rodents.

Documents

• Chrysopeleiidae
• Chrysopeleiidae (Family)