Ligdia adustata
Euonymus Harlequin ( Ligdia adustata )
The euonymus Harlequin ( Ligdia adustata ), also spindle tree clamps, Pfaff tensioner or tensioner Little euonymus called, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
Features
The moths of euonymus Harlequin reach a wingspan of 24-28 millimeters. The ground color of the wings is white, creamy white to light brown, sometimes also with a tinge of red. The root field of the forewings is dark brown and can sometimes light blue shimmer. The strong curved transverse band is blue-black, dark brown to light brown (form suffusa ), partly also washed out or nearly extinguished (formative extincta ). On the bottom of the front wing this binding is always less developed. The outer limiting the cross- tie line is very jagged. The inner boundary of the transverse fascia is usually yellowish brown or light brown. The inner cross- line is usually poorly developed or only indicated by a number of elongated items. It is usually clearly developed on the underside, since the points are here larger. The outer edge often has distinct dark spots Arrow. The wing tip is always white.
The hind wings are mainly held in the base color, the transverse band is only slightly darker. In the infield occasionally a few irregularly distributed black dots.
The egg is initially pale yellow and turns dark until Schlüpfzeitpunkt carmine. It is provided flattened - rounded and with a fine, net-like pattern. The rosette of Micropylzone is very small and five petals.
The caterpillar is relatively short and rather thick ( for caterpillars ). It is usually colored green but also green red and ruby copies before coming. The segments five to seven channels on the back white spots on limited. On the sides of the segments five and six sit larger, light brown stains, which are interconnected by a darker stain. Also on belly pair of legs sit more reddish-brown spots. The preserve sharp head is somewhat flattened front and usually colored brown. The pupa is reddish brown to blackish brown with black spotted elytra. The cremaster is cone-shaped and relatively small. He is busy with a few, very short bristles.
Geographic occurrence and habitat
The species is widespread in Europe. It comes from Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula in the west across Central Europe, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Ukraine, Russia, the Caucasus to Turkmenistan. In the north, the range extends to southern Sweden and the Baltic States. In the mountains the nature rises to 1600 meters above sea level.
The distribution area and the frequency of the spindle tree Harlequin is linked to the distribution and abundance of caterpillars food plant. It comes in diverse biotopes, was very often planted in gardens and parks where the Ordinary spindle tree (or spindle tree ) from the people. Therefore, it can be quite often in circumstances.
Way of life
The euonymus Harlequin is usually bivoltin; that is, there are usually formed two generations, but overlap somewhat. In unfavorable areas and in the mountains only a generation is formed. The moths fly from early April to early July, in climatically favorable regions and favorable years already the end of March, and from mid-July from mid- September and from mid-June to late July, when only one generation is formed. The moths were observed as they sucked nectar on the flowers of gooseberry and Eupatorium. They sit day on leaves and stems, occasionally fly during the day. They are active at dusk and are attracted by artificial light sources. Under farming conditions, the animals start right after hatching with copulation. The females lay the eggs a little later singly on the branches or leaves of the caterpillar food plant from. Eiraupen the hatch in four to five days.
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of monophagous the ordinary spindle bush ( Euonymus europaeus). The pupa overwinters in a cocoon spun loose on the ground or between leaves. In breeding, under ideal conditions, some dolls lodged a diapause, others do not. For dolls having a diapause, the hatching success, however, was greater.
Endangering
The euonymus Harlequin is not at risk in Germany.