Swammerdamia compunctella
Swammerdamia compunctella is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of web - and bud moth ( Yponomeutidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 14-15 millimeters. The head is white and tinted ocher often at the apex. The forehead is brownish scaly and weak. The antennae are reddish brown, the base member is weißlichbraun. The thorax is pale greyish ochreous, the scales on the wing joint of the thorax ( tegulae ) are mottled reddish brown, the back is much brighter and paler. At the wing leading edge there is a clear bright spot is in Subapikalbereich. The center line is blurred and indistinct. On the fringe scales extending two dark brown lines. The hind wings are gray. The first and second pair of legs is reddish brown, the tarsi whitish. The hind legs are whitish colored. The abdomen is gray and pale ventrally.
Adult caterpillars reach a length of approximately 15 millimeters. The tracked head is blackish. The Prothorakalplatte is also blackish and divided in the middle. The coloring of the crawler body ranges from a rich dark red to dark brown. Towards the back, the color is a bit pale, on the back there is a dark line. The pages are white and sometimes provided with reddish spots on each segment. The legs are dark brown or black.
Similar Species
The adults of Swammerdamia compunctella are characterized by their uniform gray appearance and the great white Subapikalbereich. However, confusion is easily possible, so that a reliable determination is often possible only through an examination of the genitals.
- Paraswammerdamia albicapitella ( Scharfenberg, 1805)
- Paraswammerdamia lutarea ( Haworth, 1828)
Occurrence
Swammerdamia compunctella is native to North and Central Europe. The species occurs in England, in the south of Wales and in Scotland, and in Dalmatia and Spain before, but usually only locally and not frequent. The species inhabited open forest areas, preferably those that contain tree seedlings of the food plants.
Way of life
The caterpillars feed on rowan (Sorbus aucuparia ) and hawthorn species ( Crataegus ). The young caterpillars overwinter in a dense white cocoon and eat the following spring sociable with two or three more caterpillars per cocoon on the leaves. The loose webs are usually located one meter above the ground. The larvae pupate from May to June, a semi- transparent cocoon in a slight cocoon on the ground.
Flight times and caterpillars
Swammerdamia compunctella is one generation per year, which flies from June to July. The moths are nocturnal and like to come to light. The caterpillars live from April to June.
System
The type locality is situated in the Alps, the country was not specified. A synonym for Swammerdamia compunctella is Swammerdamia nebulosella Stainton, 1870.