Idaea ochrata
Ochre Coloured heathland dwarf tensioner ( idaea ochrata )
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 18 to 23 millimeters, the females are slightly smaller on average. The moths of the population in Sicily are even larger (21 to 25 millimeters ), Kümmerformen can also measure just 17 millimeters. The basic color of the front and rear wings, ranging from pale brown and ocher-brown to reddish brown to. Very rarely, gray forms occur. The ornamentation is variable. In general, inner transverse line means binding and outer transverse line are clearly developed. The binding agent is often diffuse, the inner transverse line can also be nearly extinguished on the forewing, on the hindwing they lack even the most. The wavy line is often clearly visible, hemline and Saumflecken may also be present. The Diskalflecke missing on the forewing almost always, they are on the hind wing usually present. They sit much root downward moved away from the center binding.
The egg is first yellow, becoming brown later before hatching the Eiraupe. The surface bears strong longitudinal ribs which intersect with finer transverse ribs.
The greenish to yellowish- gray colored caterpillars are relatively thick, are the front end but slightly slimmer. The back line consists of two fine, gray lines, the side ridge lines are indicated only by fine gray and incomplete rows of dots. On the ventral side of each sit at the end of each segment, two black dots. The relatively small head is flat and dyed bright red.
The doll is chestnut brown and shiny, with the rear end is colored slightly darker.
Occurrence and habitat
The species is widespread in Central Europe and the Mediterranean. The range extends from the Iberian Peninsula and France in the west, across Germany, Poland, the Ukraine and southern Russia to Kazakhstan (occurrence still questionable ) and in the south of Morocco across North Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus and northern Iran to Afghanistan. In England there is only a small presence in the Southeast, also in Denmark there are only minor occurrences. In Sweden the species is native only since 1996, there is also evidence from southern Finland. The occurrence, especially in Germany has large gaps. The main focus of proliferation is there in Brandenburg, Saxony- Anhalt and Saxony North, while the type sometimes in other states completely missing or is threatened with extinction. In East Germany, she seems to understand in expansion.
In the Iberian Peninsula ( with the exception of Catalonia and the Basque Country ), in Morocco and western Algeria, the Nominatunterart of the subspecies idaea ochrata albida is replaced.
The species is thermophilic and prefers open, dry grasslands, sun-exposed slopes, often with sandy or calcareous soils, but also wet heath and moorland.
In the north of its range it comes from the plains to the hills at about 500 meters before. In the Alps, it rises up to 1500 meters, the Mediterranean and up to 2000 meters. In Asia Minor the incidence is essentially limited to the height level from 1500 to 2200 meters.
Phenology and life
The moths fly in one generation from mid-June to mid-August. In some of the southern islands of the Mediterranean, the flight time begins in early May and ends in late June. The flight time of the butterflies of the subspecies albida begins, however, in late April and can last until mid-July. The moths are easily disturbed from vegetation. Sometimes they fly around during the day, but the main activity is in the twilight. In Central Europe they rarely fly artificial light sources, in southern Europe, however, much more frequently. The butterfly sucking nectar on oregano (Origanum vulgare), yellow Wau ( Reseda lutea) and Dove Pincushion Flower ( Scabiosa columbaria ). The eggs are dropped by the female in flight.
The caterpillars grow very slowly. They feed on withered or dry plant material herbaceous plants and grasses. Detected as food crops are Viersamige vetch (Vicia tetrasperma ), Daisy Family ( Asteraceae), Madder ( Rubiaceae ), cruciferous plants ( Brassicaceae ), salt chickweed ( Honkenya peploides ), Common chickweed ( Stellaria media ), finger herb ( Potentilla ), forget- me-nots ( Myosotis) and fescue ( Festuca ). In breeding, the caterpillars can be also held with other plants such as Ordinarily Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale), smartweed ( Polygonum aviculare ), Kleinköpfigem Pippau ( Crepis capillaris ), Ordinary Bitter Herb ( Picris hieracioides ), Autumn Dandelion ( Leontodon autumnalis ), coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara ), Common Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea ), Crawling restharrow ( ononis repens ), Labkräutern ( Galium ), the ordinary foot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ) and others. The caterpillars overwinter and pupate in the spring.
System
The species was described in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli as Phalaena ochrata first time. The type locality is located in Slovenia. 1781 Johann Christian Fabricius described the species under the name Phalaena corrigata. Other names by which this species was designated are: Phalaena ochrearia cabinet, 1802 Acidalia ochrearia var sicula Zeller, 1847 Acidalia accretata Fuchs, 1901 There are also a few misspellings ( ochreata, ochraria etc.) that often before. all are to be found in the older literature. The species is currently divided into two subspecies: . Nominatunterart the I. ochrata ochrata and idaea ochrata albida Zerny, 1936 The latter is but may be regarded as a separate species. It differs by the very bright color and by the fringes which have the same color as the cross lines. There are also differences in the genital apparatus, both males and females. The previously recognized also as subspecies forms cantiata Prout, 1934, and sicula Zeller, 1847 show no constant differences to Nominatunterart and are therefore considered as synonyms of idaea ochrata ochrata.
Endangering
The species is classified ( high risk ) and in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern as endangered (category 3) in the Red List of endangered species in Bavaria, Rhineland -Palatinate and Saxony in Category 2. In Lower Saxony it is threatened with extinction, in Thuringia and North Rhine -Westphalia it is already extinct. Reasons for the decline are intensive agriculture (very early mowing of hay ) and grazing of meadows in winter (eg in England).