Cyclophora puppillaria
Cyclophora puppillaria
Cyclophora puppillaria, rarely Puppillenspanner or Red belt tensioner dolls called [Note 1], is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ). There is a drawing in color and extremely variable Art
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 23 to 28 millimeters, the second and any subsequent generations are on average much smaller, often only 19 millimeters. The front wings are apically pointed and bent the Costalrand towards the apex. In contrast, the hind wings are clearly skipped in the middle of the outer edge. Front and rear wings have almost the same basic color. However, this is highly variable, ranging usually from red-brown to reddish yellow and light brown. Even specimens with sand-colored, brown or orange ground color occur. The drawing is very variable. The inner and outer transverse line and the center shadows can be very distinctly formed, but also almost completely absent. It can also be an element to be present, one or the other be absent. The inner transverse line, but especially the outer transverse line is often replaced by a row of dots. The Diskalflecke on the front and rear wings can be large and surrounded by small or even completely absent. In specimens with large Diskalflecken these are cored often white. The Diskalflecke forewing sit, if any (and if one means the shadow is formed ) apically. In contrast, the Diskalflecke of the hind wings, when present, and a means shadow is formed in the middle shade or root- ward it. Saumflecke are usually present on the fore wings, but mostly absent on the hind wings. The Saumflecke the forewing, if included, made particularly clear to the apex of the wing down. The wurzelwärtige half of the costal margin is often dyed dark. There, where the inner and outer transverse line reach the costal margin of the forewing, distinct spots are usually configured. This may also be present if the transverse lines are almost extinct. The fringes usually have the ground color of the wings. In the subspecies from Madeira lilacinipes the fringes, however, are darker than the ground color.
The egg is oblong- oval with the slightly wider side down. It is initially light yellow, later orange and reddish- spotted shortly before hatching of Eiraupen.
The color of the bead varies from green and yellow to brown or red. The segments are clearly constricted and usually color lifted some of the constrictions. Feet, spiracles and anal flap, however, are reddish in color. The yellow to brown head has above often a darker longitudinal line.
The doll is relatively slender sharpened cremaster. It is usually greenish, while head tips and cremaster are slightly reddish.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is widespread in the Mediterranean. The incidence ranges from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco in the west to Greece, Asia Minor and Egypt in the east. It occurs in all major Mediterranean islands. The presence of stretches further over the Crimea and the Caucasus to Iran and eventually to Afghanistan. In the north the Alps form the northern boundary of the distribution, in France it comes in southern France and on the Atlantic coast to the south of Brittany before. Further east, the northernmost permanent deposits are found in Hungary. The species migrates and is therefore in the summer north of the Alps to be found to the south of England, Denmark, southern Sweden and southern Finland. It may be a ( subsequent) generation form, but does not survive the winter there under favorable conditions.
The populations of Madeira and the Azores are considered conspecific, but as their own subspecies accepted, C. p. lilacinipes in Madeira and C. p. granti in the Azores.
The species prefers dry and warm habitats. In the Mediterranean it is often found in the maquis and loose oak forests. In the vertical, the type of between 0 and about 1000 meters is to be found, even in Turkey to 1500 meters. However, during the hiking Flights type can rise up to 3200 meters in altitude.
Way of life
The species is plurivoltin, that is, it forms several generations per year. The moths appear in the northern part of the range with earthiness in March and flying up in the October or in favorable weather conditions until November. In North Africa and the Middle East, the butterflies are found throughout the year. The moths fly at dusk and at night, they are attracted by artificial light sources.
The caterpillars are polyphagous. The following caterpillar food plants are given in the literature: oaks (Quercus spp.), Cistus, myrtle ( Myrtus ) (eg, myrtle ( Myrtus communis) ), Narrow privet ( Phillyrea angustifolia), heather (Erica ) and the Western Strawberry Tree (Cistus spp.) (Arbutus unedo ).
System
The species was described in 1798 by Jacob Hübner under the name Geometra puppillaria first time scientifically. Due to the almost extreme variability in drawing and color the species was still described several times under different names: Geometra nolaria Hübner, 1809 Geometra gyrata Hübner, 1809 Aspilates mirtalis Costa, 1834 Ephyra calaritana Turati, 1911 and Cosymbia ( Ephyra ) puppillaria asiaeminoris Amsel, 1935. All of these names are therefore junior synonyms. Other proposed for this type name to be recognized as subspecies. Currently, the following sub- types are considered: Cyclophora puppillaria granti Prout, 1935 ( Azores ) and Cyclophora puppillaria lilacinipes Schaus & Cockerell, 1923 ( Madeira)