Charissa obscurata
Dark form of dry grassland stone tensioner ( Charissa obscurata )
The dry grass stone tensioner ( Charissa ( Charissa ) obscurata ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
- 2.1 caterpillar
- 2.2 doll
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan from 25 to 33 millimeters. From white to gray to black brown colored copies the entire intermediate color range occurs. Specific type are the circular central points on all four wings. On the fore wings are strongly serrated transverse lines, the outer continues on the hind wings. The hem of the large rear wing is very strong corrugated and indented, which differ in the moths of Charissa other species.
Egg
The egg has a brilliant red color. It is about twice as long as wide and covered with strong longitudinal and transverse ribs weaker.
Caterpillar
Adults caterpillars are relatively thick and short and have a gray color with brownish mottling. On the back they show yellow white spots and dark slashes. Characteristic are two small warts on the eleventh segment, which have a white tip.
Doll
The doll has a red-brown color and is provided with two short spines on the conical cremaster.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The dry grass - stone release occurs in almost all of Europe and is missing only in the far north, and on some Mediterranean islands. In the east, the incidence ranges through Asia Minor and the European part of Russia to the Caucasus and into Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the mountains, it rises up to 1800 meters. It inhabits rocky preferred dry grasslands, scree corridors, quarries and rocky heathland and wine regions.
Way of life
The moths are mostly nocturnal. Sometimes they fly during the day and suck on the flowers of various plants. Often, however, they are hidden under rocks. At night they visit artificial light sources. Main flight period are the months of June to September. The caterpillars live in late summer on the leaves of various plants, for example in Bellflower (Campanula ), plantain ( Plantago ), mugwort (Artemisia ), sorrel ( Rumex ) and clovers (Trifolium ) and at White Stonecrop (Sedum album) or yellow rock rose ( Helianthemum nummularium ). They overwinter and pupate in June of the following year.
Endangering
The dry grass stone tensioner comes in all the German states, but in very different numbers before and is out on the red list of endangered species on the early warning list.