Boudinotiana puella
Little Virgin Child ( Boudinotiana puella ), male
The little maiden child ( Boudinotiana puella ) to find in the literature under the name Archiearis puella, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the males is 29 to 34 millimeters, that of females 27 to 30 millimeters. The forewings are predominantly light gray, gray-brown or yellow-gray in color and often have only vague drawing elements. A nearly circular, large, dark Diskoidalfleck is sometimes visible. In females, the black inner transverse line occurs mostly intensive forth. The nominate Boudinotiana puella puella is characterized by dark brownish-colored rear wing, containing a narrow yellow field parallel to the front edge and a narrow, jagged, yellow transverse fascia. This drawing elements tend to the ssp. Boudinotiana puella mediterranea more reddish. The antennae of the males are short combed twice those of females thready.
Caterpillar
The caterpillars are greenish or reddish, have indistinct whitish side lines back and side stripes and white dot warts.
Similar Species
The species is similar to the Middle maiden child ( Boudinotiana notha ), but the vast and bright orange colored areas showing on the hind wings. Due to the smaller size, the color differs similar ssp. Boudinotiana puella mediterranea.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The little maiden child is to be found in Central Europe in isolated populations. The distribution area extends to southern Russia. In German-speaking species was observed in Lower Austria. The ssp. Boudinotiana puella mediterranea occurs in Southwest Bulgaria. Main habitat of the species are wetlands, for example, floodplain and lake shore.
Way of life
It makes one generation per year. The diurnal moths fly from February to April and in the first warm days of the year, usually in the morning in the sunshine active. The caterpillars live from May to June and feed on the leaves of poplar species (Populus ), in particular dither poplars (Populus tremula ). The pupa overwinters.