Zygaena ephialtes
Modifiable Rotwidderchen ( Zygaena Ephialtes ), ephialtoide form
The variable Rotwidderchen or Ringed Kronwickenwidderchen ( Zygaena Ephialtes ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of burnet ( Zygaenidae ).
- 3.1 Flight times and caterpillars
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 30 to 40 millimeters. They are, like their German name suggests, changeable, because the color of the five to six spots can vary greatly on their front wings. The spots may be colored from red to yellow to white. The most important detection and distinguishing feature is the red, sometimes yellow ring segment (belt) on the rear of the abdomen. The hind wings are red, yellowish or completely black in color and have a fine black outer edge. On them sometimes you can find one or two more bright dots. The tips of the probes are white.
The caterpillars are about 22 mm long. They have a greenish-yellow ground color and carry a side line of small black dots and one another such line of larger, sometimes square patches, on both sides of the back. On this runs fine, mostly broken topline.
Polymorphism
The variable Rotwidderchen is a polymorphic Art The moths can be assigned to different morphs. Here exist ephialtoide forms, these are similar in coloration of the genus Amata of tiger moths ( Arctiidae ); see, for example Amata phegea. They are characterized by white spots on the upper wing surface and wear a yellow ring segment. In contrast, the peucedanoiden moths are the Six -spot Burnet ( Zygaena filipendulae ) similar. You have five to six red spots on the upper wing surface and have a red body ring. These features are genetically fixed and combined freely in the inheritance. The individual populations and subspecies these allele combinations occur in different proportions. The dominant alleles are peucedanoid and dominate over the ephialtoiden. The variable Rotwidderchen was used to insects because of its pronounced polymorphism of scientists to review the Mendelian laws.
Subspecies
The individual morphs were considered by the Erstbeschreibern the 18th and 19th century, initially as a separate species (eg Sphinx peucedani, athamanthae Sphinx, Spinx coronillae ). Later they were widely used as Aberrationsnamen, but these are not in use today. Today we distinguish two subtypes of the variable Rotwidderchens:
- Z. Ephialtes Ephialtes
- Z. Ephialtes coronillae
Similar Species
- White -spot burnet ( Amata phegea ) (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Amata ragazzii ( Turati, 1917)
- Like white -spot burnet ( Amata kruegeri ) (Ragusa, 1904)
Occurrence
The variable Rotwidderchen comes in various forms in many parts of Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Pyrenees, east of the Black Forest, in the Alps and the foothills of the Alps, in the British Isles and Scandinavia. It is quite rare to be found, in the Jura region of Franconia and also in southern Europe but they are more common. The moths are found preferentially where the food plants of the caterpillars occur in larger flocks, such as railway embankments and roadsides, and in any case only on limestone soils, nutrient-poor grasslands and sparse forests. Warmer, dry areas and sunny slopes are also preferred, therefore the stocks northbound from.
Way of life
Flight times and caterpillars
The moths fly in one generation from early July to August. The caterpillars are found from September and after hibernation until June of next year.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed mainly on Colorful Kronwicke ( Securigera varia), but also reminiscent of the wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum ), horseshoe vetch ( Hippocrepis comosa ) and other clover species ( Trifolium ), speedwell (Veronica ) and plantain ( Plantago ).
Development
The females lay their eggs on the food plants of the caterpillars. Most of the caterpillar finally wintered several times until they pupate into an elongated silver white cocoon to stems or shrubs.
Threats and conservation
- Red List BRD: 3 (endangered ).