Epascestria pustulalis
Epascestria pustulalis
Epascestria pustulalis is a (small) butterfly of the family Crambidae.
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 17-22 mm (17-20 mm and a front wing length 9-10 mm). Drawing and coloring are variable. The basic color is yellow-brown, light brown, reddish brown, chestnut brown to dark brown, to the east of the circulation area predominantly lighter specimens occur, leading to the formation of subsp. orientalis Caradja 1916 led. Occasionally, the wing is slightly darker towards the outer edge. The hind wings are usually a bit darker than the front wing and can also be brown to blackish brown. In midfield can be formed a series of elongated, yellow or yellow- white dots, which splits into the wing center in two rows. In the extreme case, the point number can be reduced to one or two points near the wing leading edge. At the other extreme is the splitting point number can also be described as a through narrow gaps interrupted, located to the front edge splitting yellow band. With such bright specimens two to three closely related root lines are also formed in the root field. Also a bright hemline or an exploded points hemline may be present. The hind wings are usually uniformly colored or slightly darker towards the outer edge and wear very rare few, slurred bright spots in the midfield or indistinct trained root line. The fringes are at the front and rear wings usually slightly lighter than the ground color, especially if the wing to the outer edge is toward something darker.
The antennae of the male are ciliated shortly ciliate, the antennae of the female simple and thread-like ( filiform ).
Caterpillar
The body of the caterpillar is whitish, yellowish white to gray with a black head. The head shield is also black. Only the mouthparts and the antennae are light brown. The topline is yellowish or whitish. The Pinacula are clearly developed and black colored. The caterpillar is fully grown to about 16 mm long.
Doll
The red-brown doll is about 8 mm long and has a diameter of 2.8 mm. She is stocky and somewhat flattened dorsoventrally. Front and rear ends are rounded, the rear end is somewhat acute. The surface sculpture is finely papillose or wrinkled in some places. The bristles are, apart from the bristles on the cremaster, generally rather small. The approximately pentagonal labium is comparatively large. The maxillary palpi are very long and pointed and narrow median. The proboscis is longer than the front legs, but shorter than the middle legs. The Antennae are in turn shorter than the middle legs and forewings. The Analfeld is comparatively small. The short and wide cremaster tapers to the rounded rear end. The short, hook-like bristles Ll and D2 are close to each other and each spring from a small dimple.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species prefers to live in open habitats on dry and sandy soils, along roadsides, dumps and fields. She is widespread in Southern Europe, very locally in Central Europe ( Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary). In Germany the species is currently only found in Brandenburg, before 1980 there were finds of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In Poland, the kind of numerous locations all over the country is known distributed. In the north, rich individual occurrences to the Baltic states, southern Finland and southern Sweden ( Södermanland County, Kronoberg County, Öland and Gotland ). The distribution area extends across Asia Minor, the southern Caucasus region, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and on to Iran. Individual deposits are also known Belarus, Ukraine and southern Russia.
Way of life
The species is probably bivoltin in Southern Europe, ie it forms two overlapping generations, flying their Falter May to September. In the north of the region only a generation is formed well. After Hasenfuss the caterpillar grow in early June (the statement was referring to the area of Stettin). After Hannemann, the moths fly in June and July, this probably refers to Germany. The caterpillar lives in large, blistered bloated space mines in the leaves of Commons bugloss ( Anchusa officinalis) and the ordinary snake head ( Echium vulgare). The mines usually sit near the midrib of the leaf. The caterpillars overwinter and pupate in the mine. The caterpillar spins no cocoon, but the doll is loose in the central part of the mine.
Taxonomy and systematics
The species was described by Jacob Hübner 1823 Pyralis pustulalis first time scientifically. It is the type species of the genera Epascestria Hübner, 1823 and Phlyctaenodes Guenée, 1854. Latter is thus an objective synonym of Epascestria.
The eastern subspecies Epascestria pustulalis orientalis Caradja, 1916 was reunited by M. Nuss and J. Hayden with the Nominatunterart.