Spatalia argentina
Silver stain - toothed Spinner ( Spatalia argentina )
The silver stain - toothed Spinner ( Spatalia argentina ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tooth Spinner ( Notodontidae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 32-40 millimeters, with a forewing length of 16-18 millimeters and have a strong gray to brown hairy body. On the thorax there is a prominent, conical upward tufts of hair. The males have the abdomen end of a two-part hair brush. The front wings are usually uneven gray -brown to light reddish brown and bear at its center a conspicuous, beilförmigen silver spot around which there are several smaller spots. The typical for the family tooth on the inner edge of the forewing is rust brown to rusty red. The hind wings have a yellow-gray color. The moths of the second generation are smaller and less contrast in color than the first generation.
The caterpillars are about 50 mm long and mimic their appearance perfectly a small Eichenästchen ( mimesis ). They are gray or glossy reddish brown and wear on the back of the fourth segment two conical cusps, on the tenth segment is a narrow, black -edged transverse ridge and on the eleventh segment a small blunt cusps, which are all perfect by the mimic of buds the camouflage of the caterpillars. At the back of the animals runs a fine whitish -edged line on the sides of the body is found, moreover, often depending on an equally or brownish longitudinal line.
Occurrence
The species occurs in Central, South, Southeast Europe and Asia Minor. In Central Europe it is only found locally at temperature more favored locations such as in the Rhine Valley and southern Steigerwald, but still comes up in the northeast of Germany before. In the north- west and the Baltic Sea coast it is missing. They are found in Au and other deciduous mixed forests with a high proportion of oak.
Way of life
The nocturnal Imagines sit during the day hidden in vegetation, often in oaks.
Flight times and caterpillars
The type flies in two generations per year from late May to late June and August. The caterpillars from the eggs of the first generation can be found from August to October, the second in June and July of the following year.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed according to the majority bibliography exclusively of oak (Quercus ), in particular of English oak (Quercus robur). Koch also mentions poplars (Populus ) and willow ( Salix) as a food plant, although this is subject to review.
Development
The females lay their eggs on both bushy and in the lower areas of older, sunlit oak. The young caterpillar sits at the blade tip and eats them from either side of the midrib, which they used as a seat. Later gradually the entire sheet, except for the wires eaten. The species overwinters as a pupa in a loose hellgräulichen dream. The doll itself is colored black brown.
Threats and conservation
The species is found in Central Europe very rarely and only on high heat favored places. The silver stain - toothed Spinner shares its habitat among others, the gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) and May beetles ( Melolontha ). If in forestry mass occurrence of the gypsy moth fought biologically or chemically, then drop these measures also populations of the silver stain - toothed Spinners victim. The caterpillars are in direct competition for food to be mass- occurring larvae of the gypsy moth. For these reasons the species in the Red List of the FRG as endangered ( category 2) is classified. Similarly, the species is listed in Austria on the Red List.