Catoptria conchella
Catoptria conchella
Catoptria conchella is a butterfly of the family of European corn borer ( Crambidae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 22-28 millimeters. The antennae of the males are serrated and ciliated very short, which are the females thready. The thorax is white and yellowish on the sides of the back. The fore wings are brownish to brownish yellow in most specimens Frans scales are mostly white. The drawing consists of a white Basalstrieme and an equally colored extension stain. The hind wings are pale gray. The well-known from Switzerland shape rhombellus Zeller, 1863 is smaller and the extension whitish spot on the fore wings is shorter. The yellowish colored specimens of C. conchella there is a possibility of confusion with the kind occurring in Eastern Europe Catoptria pauperella. However, in the last-mentioned type is the spot of the extension Basalstrieme smaller and triangular. In the subspecies Catoptria conchella bourgognei the costal area of the forewing is brownish and the outer edge is pale. The subspecies C. c. pseudopauperella similar Catoptria pauperella, the forewings are somewhat shorter. The extension spot is wider and the dorsal edge is less oblique. The exclusive determination of the type by a genital examination is uncertain since the genitalia of C. conchella and C. pauperella are very similar. In the last- mentioned kind is the cost of the blades interrupt more or less straight, with the first-mentioned type it is, however, more or less curved.
Similar Species
In the literature are cited as similar types:
- Catoptria pauperella ( Treitschke, 1832)
- Catoptria caucasica ( Alphéraky, 1877)
- Catoptria mytilella ( Hübner, 1805)
- Catoptria dimorphella (Staudinger, 1882)
- Catoptria colchicella ( Lederer, 1870)
- Catoptria Pinella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Dissemination
Catoptria conchella occurs in the Alps and in Romania ( Transylvania ). From Sweden there are older evidence (only three copies), and evidence from Holland with only a single copy. The Fund releases from Estonia and Poland are to doubt. This is probably true also for those from Croatia.
In Germany the species is native only in Bavaria. It is not endangered and there is " moderately frequent " before. From other states, there is either no evidence or these are old (Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony -Anhalt).
In Catoptria conchella is a montane abundant type who settled in the alpine meadows up to 2200 m altitude.
Way of life
The caterpillars live on mossy rocks and old trees, where they will take place from April to June. Like other species of the genus, the moths rest during the day upside down on blades of grass. The moths are crepuscular and are mainly found in open, grassy terrain. They fly from June to August.
System
There are known the following subspecies:
- Catoptria conchella bourgognei Leraut, 2001
- Catoptria conchella pseudopauperella ( Zerny, 1914)