Rhodostrophia vibicaria
Rotbandspanner ( Rhodostrophia vibicaria )
The Rotbandspanner ( Rhodostrophia vibicaria ), also called Esparsetten - Rotbandspanner, is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 27-33 mm. The second generation is much smaller, as specimens in the northernmost part of the area of distribution. In the fore wings, the angle between the leading edge and the outer edge is relatively small. The hind wings are slightly bent in the middle of the outer edge. The basic color is light brown to yellowish brown, rarely olivaceous something. There are three transverse lines present, which are almost always very pronounced, only the inner is drawn often weaker. The field between the center and the outer transverse line is often filled red. Rarely ds Saumfeld is somewhat reddish. Mostly, however, the fringe is a deep red color. The drawing is usually on the hind wings away; but lacks the inner transverse line. Diskalflecken may be present on the front and rear wings, but usually they are absent on the hind wings.
The somewhat irregular, at both ends slightly blunted egg shows on the outside 16 longitudinal ribs which intersect with weaker transverse ribs. It is initially light yellow and light red is later.
The caterpillar is very long and slender: it is towards the head a little slimmer. It is yellowish gray to brownish gray, but rarely greenish, reddish, or ocher.
The doll has a yellow -brown color. On the conical cremaster sit two -spaced bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species occurs from west through Central to Eastern Europe and Siberia before. In the north it extends to southern Fennoscandia and the Baltic, as far south as North Africa. However, it is missing in the British Isles. In the east it extends over Asia Minor, the Caucasus, northern Iran to the Central Asian mountains. However, the incidence is patchy, often insular. In the northern part of the range ( approximately north of the Alps ) is the type from 0 to about 700 m above sea level before. In the Alps, the nature rises up to 1100 m, in the Southern Alps to 1500 meters. In southern Europe, it comes up before at altitudes of 2600 meters. There they usually missing but below 1000 m. In North Africa and in Iran it is found from about 1600 m to 3000 m.
The species is xerothermophil, that is, she loves hot dry locations. In Central Europe, they settled dry warm nutrient-poor grasslands, rocky semi-dry grasslands on calcareous soil, juniper heaths, clearings in oak-hornbeam - oak forests and rich pine forests on sandy soil. But even in anthropogenic habitats is the kind to be found, such as open vineyards, abandoned semi-dry meadows, sunny Wegböschungen and railway embankments and quarries. On the coast and sheltered, sunny dune slopes in the north and heaths and moors. In Asia Minor, Iran and Central Asia, she lives very xeromontan, ie prefers dry mountainous areas.
Phenology and life
The species is usually univoltine in Central Europe; that is, it is formed only one generation. The moths fly from early June to late July. Rarely, a partial second generation is formed yet. Their butterflies are found from late July to mid-September. In southern Europe, about south of the Alps, a second generation is formed regularly. The moths rarely fly during the day. They usually rest in the vegetation, but can be easily startled. The main activity is in the twilight, and they are attracted by artificial light sources. The moths suck nectar, but so far this has been observed only on snake heads ( Echium ).
The caterpillars are polyphagous who eat a variety of herbaceous plants, preferably legumes ( Fabaceae ). At caterpillar food plants mentioned: heather ( Calluna vulgaris), Hairy broom ( Genista pilosa ), Scotch broom ( Cytisus scoparius ), bladder campion ( Lychnis vulgaris vel Silene vulgaris), Salad Burnet ( Sanguisorba minor), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), seed - sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia ), dyer's broom ( Genista tinctoria ), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Leucanthemum vulgare (Leucanthemum vulgare ), Common horseshoe vetch ( Hippocrepis comosa ), Onobrychis sativa, Plebejus ( Coronilla ), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Sweet and tragacanth ( Astragalus glycyphyllos ), kidney vetch ( Anthyllis ), roses (Rosa), sorrel ( Rumex ), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Dürr root (Inula conyzae ), Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus ) and field - acinos ( Acinos arvensis). The breed also succeeded with Common laburnum ( Laburnum anagyroides ) Colorful Kronwicke ( Coronilla varia), Vogelknöteriche ( Polygonum ), broom ( Genista ) and Danish Astragalus ( Astragalus danicus ).
Usually the caterpillar hibernates, rarely also the doll or the egg.
System
The species was described in 1759 by Carl Alexander Clerck under the name Phalaena vibicaria first time scientifically. Due to the variability of the species was described in six other names that are junior synonyms therefore. Currently three subspecies are recognized: the nominotypical subspecies Rhodostrophia vibicaria vibicaria Clerck, 1759 Rhodostrophia vibicaria strigata (Staudinger, 1871) ( Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, from Morocco to Algeria) and Rhodostrophia vibicaria unicolorata (Staudinger, 1871) ( Altai, Central Asian mountains). The previously considered as separate subspecies Rhodostrophia vibicaria minuta Heydemann, 1933 on the East Frisian Islands with olive color and smaller wingspan, was reunited with the man of the house nominotypischen subspecies.
Endangering
The species is in some German Länder highly vulnerable to the intensification of farming and afforestation, eg in Mecklenburg -Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and North Rhine -Westphalia. In Saxony it is in category 3 (endangered ) listed. In Brandenburg and Rhineland -Palatinate it is a kind of early warning, ie stocks are declining.