Eudonia mercurella
Eudonia mercurella
Eudonia mercurella is a butterfly of the family Crambidae.
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
The forewings of the moths are about six to 8.5 millimeters long and have a gray color. The root box is gray. The inner center line is white and lined with black towards the center field. The medial ante preferred spot is black and the form of lines. The distal ring-shaped stain in the shape of an "X " and does not affect the outer transverse line. The latter, together with the line shaft a clearly visible "X". The retinaculum of the male moth has no sclerotized hook-shaped extension ( Hamus ). Copies calcareous soils are much paler and less marked contrast. In some specimens the front and the midfield Saumfeld are gray-white, the middle, however, is grayish black. This form was portlandica named after their area of distribution, the Isle of Portland. The uncus of the male genitalia is distinctly notched distally. The corpus bursae is spherical, the sign is small and ovate lanceolate. The ductus bursae is done in two turns, the Colliculum - a small hilly survey - is long and narrow, the antrum is narrow and elongated.
Subspecies
- Eudonia mercurella puella ( Leraut, 1982)
Similar Species
A similar type is Eudonia lacustrata that forms of Eudonia mercurella by the broken wavy line at the wing tip ( apex) of a broad white spot is different. Another distinguishing feature of the female is the ventrodistal located cusp of the blades. Furthermore Eudonia mercurella externally Eudonia similar speideli and pale drawn copies of Eudonia liebmani.
Occurrence
Eudonia mercurella is widespread and colonized both the plain and the mountain country in Europe. The moths live in bushy locations and sparse forests.
Outside Europe, the species is found in northwest Africa, in Turkey in the Taurus mountains, in Lebanon, in Iran Alborz mountains and in the Sardab Valley at altitudes of 1,400 meters.
Way of life
The oligophagen caterpillars feed on mosses, such as Isothecium alopecuroides and cypress Sleep moss ( Hypnum cupressiforme ) and lichens, being spun transitions are created.
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in Central Europe from mid-April to August.
System
From the literature the following synonyms for Eudonia mercurella are known:
- Phalaena tinea mercurella Linnaeus, 1758
- Eudorea portlandica Humphreys & Westwood, 1841
- Eudorea frequentella Stainton, 1849
- Eudorea concinnella Curtis, 1850
- Eudonia mercurella puella Leraut, 1982