Idaea subsaturata
Idaea subsaturata
Idaea subsaturata is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
Features
The moths have a wingspan of 14 to 15 millimeters, the second ( and possibly third ) generation only about 12 to 13 millimeters. In North Africa, the moths are larger and reach a wingspan of up to 19 millimeters ( subsp. lecerfiata ). The ground color varies little from light brown, medium brown ocher to light. The drawing elements are dark brown. The drawing consists of inner transverse line means binding and outer transverse line. Inner and outer transverse line are sharply drawn, the binding agent is washed out. Inner and outer transverse line are slightly wavy and denticulate on the front wings. On the hind wing lacks the inner transverse line and the outer transverse line is more wavy or bulged. The Diskalflecke are often developed significantly, but occasionally drawn weak. On the forewing they sit in the middle binding, on the hind wing well outside, that is, on the outer edge of the nearby side. In Saumfeld six angled, indistinctly marked spots are usually present, which can also flow into each other. The Saumflecke turn, are clearly shown and can be connected by a thin line.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The distribution area of idaea subsaturata is predominantly western Mediterranean and relatively small. It is in the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula (from southern Portugal to Eastern Pyrenees ), northern Spain ( from the east coast to the Basque Country ) and very small deposits to Madrid and limited in northern Portugal. In France, the deposits are also relatively small and isolated ( Depts. Vendée, Deux -Sèvres, Lot, Aveyron, Lozère, Gard, Herault, Aude, Pyrenees Orientales and Var and Ardèche limited. In North Africa the way from northeastern Morocco, northern Algeria to come Tunisia and western Libya before. reports of the species from Egypt, Cyprus and Israel are considered by Hausmann errors.
The species occurs only in warm dry habitats. However, little is known which habitats are exactly preferred. In the vertical direction it comes from 0 to 2000 meters altitude before.
Phenology and life
It makes a to three generations per year depending on the height level. In the lowlands, the moths fly from late May to mid-October, in the mountains of mid-July to mid-August. The caterpillars are developing rapidly. In the breeding took one cycle only 40 days. Little is known about the caterpillar food plants in nature, probably the larvae feed on withered plant parts of different types of herbaceous plants. The breed came with the petals of the ordinary dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ), garden salad ( Lactuca sativa), knotweed ( Polygonum aviculare ) and other plants and flowers. The moths are attracted by artificial light sources.
System
The species was described in 1858 by Achille Guenee as Acidalia subsaturata first time scientifically. Otto Staudinger described it in 1859 under the name Acidalia miserata and Adolf Rössler 1877 Acidalia subherbariata. Both names are therefore junior synonyms. Currently, the species is divided into two subspecies: the nominotypical subspecies idaea subsaturata subsaturata ( Guenee, 1858) and idaea subsaturata lecerfiata Homberg, 1910 The latter subspecies has the synonym Acidalia subsaturata var holli Culot, 1917 idaea subsaturata lecerfiata Homberg, 1910 differs. . by the lighter color and the lighter drawing elements from the nominotypischen subspecies. In addition, the spots in Saumfeld flowed indistinct or another, and the means binding on the hind wing is weak.