Mesoleuca albicillata
Blackberry blade tensioner ( Mesoleuca albicillata )
The blackberry leaf tensioner ( Mesoleuca albicillata ), also called raspberry leaf tensioner, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the moth ranges from 30 to 38 millimeters. The ground color of the forewings is creamy white to bright white. The root field is colored distinctively black brown. Suited to a large stain emphasizes almost to the apex at the anterior margin behind the middle. In addition, a double gray, outer transverse line, a white wave line in the gray Saumfeld and a very small black Diskalfleck are available. The hind wings are white, have a gray Saumfeld, which is crossed by an indistinct whitish wavy line and reveal a thin, dark transverse line and a small black center spot.
Caterpillar
Adults caterpillars are strongly colored green. On the back they show very distinctive yellow-brown to reddish-brown stains arrow.
Similar Species
- The Brown -banded blade tensioner ( Catarhoe cuculata ) with a wingspan 22-27 mm is much smaller and also shows reddish brown drawing elements in the root and Saumfeld.
- When Petrel ( Melanthia procellata ) the dark root field is smaller, the front edge shows a narrow dark stripes and the big dark center spot is extended further than albicillata.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The blackberry blade tensioner is spread from Spain to western and central Europe, including the British Isles by the temperate zone to East Asia. In Northern Europe, it is found into middle Fennoscandia, in the south, to Italy and the Balkans and the Black Sea. The species prefers inhabited sparse forests, forest edges, plantations, Vorhölzer, floodplains, riparian areas, gardens and parks.
Way of life
The nocturnal moths fly mostly in two generations from late April to late June and in July and August. Copies may even be encountered in October, which may belong to a third generation. During the day the moths rest on tree trunks sometimes. Because of their similarity in color with bird droppings are therefore despite the eye-catching black and white drawing from predators largely protected ( mimesis ). They appear at night with artificial light sources. For food of the caterpillars include in particular the leaves of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus ), raspberry (Rubus idaeus ), the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa ) and of wild rose species ( Rosa). The species overwinters as a pupa.
Endangering
The blackberry leaf clamper is in all German federal states and is run on the Red List of Threatened Species as not at risk.