Cream wave
Yellowish White Small tensioner ( Scopula floslactata )
The Cream-colored small tensioner ( Scopula floslactata ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 22-30 millimeters; in Northern Europe are small with 20 to 25 mm wingspan usually. Color and drawing are variable. The wings are creamy white to yellowish white. About the front and rear wings usually draw three horizontal lines, the outer one is jagged. This is usually also always formed at the strongest. Occasionally, the wavy line is good to see. The width of the transverse lines seem to be induced by humidity during pupal development. Higher temperatures during pupal development were mostly animals with a fine drawing. Very rarely occur almost without drawings copies. Saumflecken are usually present, may in rare cases, however, are lacking. The Diskalflecke are small and often absent on the fore wings, or are very washed out. In contrast, the Diskalflecke are on the hind wings almost always present. The fringes are sometimes slightly darker than the ground color.
The egg is oval with flattened top. It is first dyed light yellow and purple just before the hatching of the Eiraupen. The top 18 includes longitudinal ribs which intersect with 25 to 27 transverse ribs.
The caterpillar is relatively lean and gray or brownish to reddish brown. The back line is blackish and relatively thin. The head is small and flattened.
The pupa is light brown and relatively slim. The distinct constrictions between the segments are colored often intense.
Geographical distribution
The Cream-colored small tensioner comes from the Pyrenees, over parts of France and throughout Central Europe and east across the Urals to the Russian Far East ( Sakhalin Island ), north-east China, Japan and Korea before. In the north of the area of distribution extends well into Scandinavia and Finland. However, the type is largely absent in southern Europe. Isolated deposits are found in southern Bulgaria and the Pyrenees.
In Scotland, the Nominatunterart is represented by the subspecies Scopula floslactata scotica Cockayne, 1951, which is slightly smaller on average and has a dark Überstäubung of the wings. The subspecies Scopula floslactata claudata Prout, 1913 replaces the Nominatunterart in Japan. Specimens are usually dusted very zeichnungsarm and black. Often the agent binding is the most noticeable trained transverse line.
Habitat
The species is found along forest edges, clearings, in heathland, bog at edges and in gardens and parklands. However, it avoids open landscapes in general. The focus of occurrence is in sparse forests and shrubbery rich valleys, verbuschenden slopes or swampy forest meadows. It prefers moist to semi- moist locations and comes from the plains to about 1,100 meters in the low mountains, 1200 meters in the Northern Alps and up to 1500 meters in the Southern Alps before.
Phenology and life
The type flies in a brood from May to June at higher elevations also to July. In the south of its range, a second incomplete generation is possible under favorable conditions, which can be observed from July to August. The main activity of the moth is in the twilight; the animals are subjected to a flame.
The caterpillars feed on, among others, woodruff ( Galium odoratum ), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Red Honeysuckle ( Lonicera xylosteum ), black alder ( Alnus glutinosa), skipjack or bedstraw ( Galium verum), Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa ) and Fence vetch (Vicia sepium ). Presumably they also eat dry leaves of poplar (Populus ) and willow ( Salix). The caterpillar overwinters, pupation takes place in spring in a vermengtem with earth dream.
System
The species was described in 1809 by Adrian Hardy Haworth floslactata as Phalaena first time scientifically. Hausmann lists seven possible synonyms older, but can not be identified ( nouns dubia ) and a long list of misspellings for this species Other names are accepted at subspecies level. Currently, besides the Nominatunterart the subspecies Scopula floslactata claudata Prout, 1913 and Scopula floslactata scotica Cockayne, 1951 accepted.
Endangering
The style is seen throughout Germany not compromised. However, it is in Lower Saxony and Saarland near threatened ( category 5 or 4 ), as the stocks are declining. In the city-state of Hamburg, the species is threatened with extinction on the other hand, however, there was always rare.