Chamaesphecia masariformis
Sawflies - Clearwing ( Chamaesphecia masariformis ) in mating
Called The sawfly - Clearwing ( Chamaesphecia masariformis ), also Vespidae - Clearwing or piston Clearwing Wasp, a butterfly of the family is Clearwing ( Sesiidae ). The scientific name of the species derives from masaris from = piston wasp.
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The most striking feature of the moths are their mostly transparent wings, with only the wing veins, the Diskalfleck and the wing edges are scaly. In appearance they resemble honey wasp ( Masarinae ), some sawfly species ( Tenthredinidae ) or Real wasps ( Vespinae ). This mimicry protects them from predators. The moths reach a wingspan of 16-25 millimeters. In the region of the apex of the fore wings are clear yellow longitudinal stripes highlight. In the middle is an elongated black brown Diskalfleck that extends from the front to the back edge. The hind wings have a very narrow dark Saumbinde and a small black brown Diskalfleck. The antennae are black, yellow on the outside. In the segments of two, four, six and seven of the abdomen are black in the male yellow, golden-yellow or orange-yellow rings. The segments two and five have the same color spots. Female moths show on segments two, four and six equally colored rings, which are usually somewhat broader. They also have a small orange yellow spot on the third segment. The head and the crown and sides of the chest are hairy orange yellow. The anal tuft formed strong and also of orange-yellow color.
Similar Species
Chamaesphecia anellata has strong orange-yellow colored striae and Chamaesphecia proximata differs by more rounded wings.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The sawfly - clearwings is distributed from southern and south-eastern Europe over southern Russia and the Transcaucasus to Central Asia. However, it is missing on the Iberian Peninsula. In German-speaking countries he has been reported from Lower Austria and eastern Switzerland. Main habitat of the species are dry, hot ruderal areas, open vineyards and rocky steppes.
Way of life
The diurnal moths fly during the months of May to July. They are particularly active in the afternoon and then like to visit the flowers of various plants. In particular, they have been observed on St. John's Wort flowers ( Hypericum perforatum ). The caterpillars live yearling in the rootstocks of different types of mullein ( Verbascum ). Occasionally they have also been found in figwort ( Scrophularia canina ). They pupate in the spring in the upper part of the rhizome in a cocoon, which protrudes a few millimeters above the surface of the earth beyond.