Uresiphita gilvata
Uresiphita gilvata
Uresiphita gilvata (often called yet Uresiphita limbalis or Mecyna polygonalis ) is a butterfly of the family Crambidae.
Features
The moths reach a wingspan from 29 to 37 millimeters (or a forewing length of 14 to 16 mm. ) The species is very variable in color and pattern. The basic color ranges from dark yellowish brown to dark brown with gray cross bands. Most inner and outer transverse line are clearly drawn; However, there are also copies with almost extinct drawing. The transverse lines are usually darker than the ground color, margins often more or less wide bright. The inner transverse line is wavy, serrated outer transverse line and jumps on the inner edge back strong. Almost always there are darker ring and Kidney Swap. The shading, borders, the outer can sometimes be very broad and extend to the renal defect, and thus form a broad gray transverse fascia. In other instances the middle between inner and outer transverse line is obscured. Often the outer half of Saumfeldes is darker than the base color. The hind wings are yellowish to brownish yellow with a broad dark brown Saumfeld.
The caterpillar is pale yellowish to cinereous. The head is shiny black, the warts are occupied with single white bristles.
The pupa is reddish brown and is 11.0 to 13.1 millimeters long and measures 3.4 to 3.8 millimeters in diameter. She has a fine to medium-fine surface sculpture and medium-length bristles. The cremaster is covered with long, oblique outwardly and downwardly diverging bristles.
Geographical distribution and habitat
Uresiphita gilvata occurs in central and southern Europe, North Africa, West Asia and the Canary Islands.
The species prefers dry warm, open, often rocky habitats. In central Europe it occurs only very locally and is usually also not frequent. In the Mediterranean, however, they can (frequent occurrence of Genista species, for example ) even occur en masse under favorable conditions.
Way of life
Uresiphita gilvata forms two generations per year. The moths fly from May to September. The oligophagen caterpillars feed on flowers and leaves of broom ( Genista ), gorse ( Ulex ), Geißklee ( Cytisus ) and Phaseolus. The caterpillars live in a cocoon on leaves and flowers of the food plants. They pupate in a cocoon of whitish; the doll wintered.
System
The nomenclature of this taxon is extremely complicated; therefore exist in the literature three commonly used name for this species, the taxon was first correctly identified in 1794 and named by Johann Christian Fabricius as Phalaena gilvata as a separate taxon. The species has already been described a few years earlier (1775 ) by Michael Denis Johann Ignaz and Schiffermueller as Pyralis limbalis, a name which has entered into the following literature. Pyralis limbalis is in the International Regulations for Zoological Nomenclature, although an available name, but can not be used for this type. It is in fact a misidentification and a simultaneous unjustified emendation ( = intended change of name ) of Linnaeus ( 1767) established type Phalaena ( Geometra ) limbata. This taxon is a valid taxon of the genus Evergestis Hübner, 1825 ( Evergestis limbata (Linnaeus, 1767) ) and Pyralis limbalis Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775 is thus formally a junior synonym of this kind, the history of the name was further misuse even more complicated. 1825 formed Hübner Pyralis limbalis Denis & Schiffermueller actually the taxon described here. There the genus Uresiphita Hübner, 1825 was determined in this sense to the type species.
Often this taxon appears under the name Mecyna polygonalis ( Hübner, 1796) in the older literature. The history of this name is just as complicated. Huebner (1796 ) was formed under the name Pyralis polygonalis from the taxon described here. It is often regarded as a new species description, but is only the first attempt, the type Pyralis polygonalis Denis & Schiffermueller to represent 1775. The identity of this taxon is uncertain, however, probably is a synonym of a species of the genus Udea, maybe it's an older synonym of Udea fulvalis ( Hübner, 1809). Due to the uncertainty in the identification Udea should be fulvalis ( Hübner, 1809) conserved. However, what Hübner maps under Pyralis polygonalis Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775 is definitely Uresiphita gilvata (Fabricius, 1794). Pyralis polygonalis Hübner, 1796, as he was often used in the literature, for the purposes of zoological nomenclature but no available name. ( nomen nullum )
The name mistakenly used for this type Pyralis limbalis sensu Hübner, 1825 (nec Denis & Schiffer Müller, 1775) was determined for the type species of the genus Uresiphita Hübner, 1825. This Phalaena gilvata Fabricius is not formal, but de facto the typical species of the genus Uresiphita. Achille Guenee struck in 1845 also the new genus Mecyna ago. He determined no type species, but made seven species to his new genus; in the first place " Mecyna polygonalis Hübner ". Later Walker certain (1859 ) Meyna polygonalis Hübner to the type species. According to the International Regulations for Zoological Nomenclature a wrong certain type species is a case which the Commission would have to decide. Since Mecyna Guenée in each case is a junior synonym, either from Udea Guenée 1845 or Uresiphita Hübner, 1825 is here, no decision needed. On the other hand would be the wrong basically use the type species of Uresiphita Hübner, 1825 actually fix by the Commission.
Due to the great variability of the species in color and pattern, there are other scientific names ( and synonyms) for this taxon: Pyralis diver salis Hübner, 1796 Pyralis rusticalis Hübner, 1796, which, however, have found no spread in the literature.
Harmful effect
In the Mediterranean, for example, in Liguria, where the caterpillar food plants, Genista monosperma is commercially grown for cut foliage, Uresiphita gilvata tendency for proliferation and may cause serious damage in the plantations. To combat usually pesticides are used. In a project in which a more natural control of the pest was investigated experimentally the braconid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis was used to fight. It was shown that this type parasitizes the caterpillars of Uresiphita gilvata.