Scopula nigropunctata
Eckflügel small tensioner ( Scopula nigropunctata )
The Eckflügel small tensioner ( Scopula nigropunctata ), also called Ziest Small Spanner ', is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 25-29 mm; the second generation is much smaller, sometimes only to 21 millimeters. The forewings are relatively wide, the rear wing is angled to the center of the outer edge. The ground color varies from light gray to light brown with a dark Überstäubung. The drawing elements are gray-brown in color and usually quite separate from the base color. Trained are inner transverse line, medium binding, outer transverse line and sometimes the shaft line and the hem line. The inner transverse line is often less developed, the binding agent is, however, wide blurred and the most prominent design element, also towards the outer transverse line. Internal transverse line means binding and outer transverse line are jagged or denticulate, the teeth Lung is at the center binding usually blurred. Occasionally, the wavy line as a distinct shadow is visible. In contrast, the hem line consists of strongly ausgelängten, narrow dark brown stripes. These can be reduced, however, also inconspicuous small dots. The Diskalflecke are always developed on the front and hind wings; they are black and usually very clear. The fringes are usually slightly darker than the ground color held.
The egg is provided on the outside with strong longitudinal ribs which intersect with finer transverse ribs.
The caterpillar is relatively slender; they will go slightly thinner towards the front end. It is yellowish or gray. On the back of the double line of the back is dark colored, but usually somewhat blurred. In the middle segments quadrangular patches are formed, which are interrupted by the back line. The rounded head is colored flat and brownish.
The pupa is reddish brown with slightly lighter elytra. It has the cremaster six small bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The Eckflügel small tensioner has a large distribution area in Europe, ranging from the Iberian Peninsula in the west across central Europe and northern Europe, through central Russia to the Urals. The northern boundary is located in the south of England, South Denmark and southern Sweden ( Skåne ). In the south it is limited to the extreme north of the Iberian Peninsula. In Italy, the incidence is limited to the northern part, apart from an isolated occurrence in Calabria and a questionable occurrence in Sicily. On the Balkan Peninsula it reaches up to the Greek border region and Eastern Bulgaria. From there, still attracts a smaller deposits in western Turkey. Outside Europe, the species occurs in eastern Turkey, in the Caucasus region, northern Iran, southern Siberia, Mongolia, China, the Russian Far East, Japan and Korea. However, the nominotypical taxon in northern Japan ( Hokkaido, Kuschiro and Shibecha ) is replaced by the subspecies Scopula nigropunctata subimbella Inoue, 1958. In Korea, the subspecies Scopula nigropunctata chosensis Bryk takes, 1949. In East and Southeast China is used instead of nominotypischen subspecies before the subspecies Scopula nigropunctata subcandida Walker, 1862.
The species is primarily an inhabitant of moist forests. It occurs in mixed forests, bush country, forest edges, but also in parks and gardens. You're missing almost entirely in open landscapes. Usually it comes from 0 prior to about 1000 meters. In the Alps, the nature rises up to 1400 meters, in the Southern Alps, even up to 1600 meters. In the Caucasus and eastern Turkey it even comes down to 2000 meters altitude before.
Phenology and life
The species is usually univoltine; ie it is formed only one generation, their moth fly from mid-June to early August. In the warmest valleys of the Southern Alps and Asia are two, not sharply separated from each other formed generations, the moths fly from early May to early October. The moths fly mainly at dusk. They are attracted by artificial light sources and come to the bait. The moths were observed when sucking nectar on Common Clematis (Clematis vitalba ). You just move over shorter distances.
The caterpillars are polyphagous, but probably they prefer Ordinary Clematis (Clematis vitalba ). More caterpillar food plants are proven: Waldgeißblatt ( Lonicera periclymenum ), forest Betony ( Stachys sylvatica), Upright Clematis (Clematis recta ), Alpine Soldanelle ( Soldanella alpina ), Common Privet ( Ligustrum vulgare). Caterpillars were also near dewberry (Rubus caesius ), Norway maple (Acer platanoides ), oregano (Origanum vulgare), Genuine toadflax ( Linaria vulgaris) and germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys ), but without direct evidence that the caterpillars of these plants have also eaten. Next will be referred to as caterpillar food plants: vetches (Vicia ), violets ( Viola ), speedwell (Veronica ), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Plantain ( Plantago ), honeysuckle ( Lonicera ), hazel (Corylus ), alder ( Alnus ), clematis (Clematis ) and fall foliage. The breed was also possible for the feeding of the ordinary dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), smartweed ( Polygonum aviculare ) and milkweed ( Vincetoxicum hirundinaria ).
The caterpillar overwinters and pupates in the spring.
System
The species was described in 1767 by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel as Phalaena nigropunctata first time scientifically. As a type locality he gave to Berlin. Hausmann lists several synonyms. Currently, four subspecies are distinguished: the nominotypical subspecies Scopula nigropunctata nigropunctata ( Hufnagel, 1767), Scopula nigropunctata subimbella Inoue, 1958, Scopula nigropunctata chosensis Bryk, 1949 and Scopula nigropunctata subcandida Walker, 1862.
Endangering
The species is regarded in Germany as a whole is not compromised. However, it is classified in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and the Saarland in Category 2 ( high risk ), in Hamburg it is already extinct.