Pale November Moth
Buchwald autumn tensioner ( Epirrita christyi )
The beech forest Autumn tensioner ( Epirrita christyi ), also known as Gray beech Autumn tensioner or tensioner Little Autumn, is a butterfly belonging to the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Description
Butterfly
The moths usually reach a wingspan of 25-30 millimeters. The ground color of the forewings is predominantly pale brown gray. Cross lines and binding are obscured, sometimes out of focus, blurred or interrupted. In newly hatched specimens the blackish veins become more distinct. The center is very small. The outer boundary line of the center panel runs at right angles to the center. The hind wings have a whitish color.
Egg
The egg is initially shiny green and later takes on a reddish color.
Caterpillar
Adults caterpillars are green or brown, and have a reddish-brown, faded spot pattern on its back, side whitish ridge lines and black side stripes.
Doll
The brown-red colored, stocky doll has two divergent peaks at the slender cremaster.
Similar Species
Very similar to the Buchwald- autumn tensioners are the birch bog woodland Autumn tensioner ( Epirrita autumnata ) and the wood -floor fall tensioner ( Epirrita dilutata ), however, have (up to 44 mm 30 to 40 and 35 respectively ) are generally both much larger wing spans. Epirrita autumnata shows also often clearly distinct binding and a silvery Überstäubung. Specimens from higher alpine regions are usually heavily obscured. In Epirrita dilutata the outer boundary line of the midfield runs usually around in an arc around the center. In all the aforementioned distinctive features but there are sometimes overlapping and borderline cases. For a reliable determination therefore a genitalmorphologische investigation is advised.
Geographical distribution and occurrence
The range of the species extends from Spain and the British Isles to the Balkans, in the north to Fennoscandia, in the south to the northern Mediterranean ( excluding islands ) and in the east to the Ukraine, Transcaucasia and Armenia. Main habitat are beech and sycamore forests and forest fells.
Way of life
The Buchwald- autumn release flies in one generation from mid-September to late November. The nocturnal moths appear to artificial light sources. The caterpillars live in May and June. They feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees, these include beech ( Fagus sylvatica), purple willow (Salix purpurea), goat willow (Salix caprea ), silver birch (Betula pendula), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and elm (Ulmus ). Overwintering stage is the egg.
Endangering
The species occurs in the German states used and is out on the red list of threatened species as not at risk.