Zygaena lonicerae
Fenugreek Burnet ( Zygaena lonicerae )
The trefoil Burnet ( Zygaena lonicerae ), also called Clover Burnet, is a butterfly of the family of burnet ( Zygaenidae ). It forms together with the bottom foot trefoil Burnet ( Zygaena trifolii ) a pair of species.
Features
The forewing length of females is 16 to 19 millimeters, that of males 15 to 18 millimeters. The forewings of the males have a black base color with a strong bluish or blue- green tinge and marked with five spots. Spot 3 is smaller than spot 4 spots of the forewing and the hind wings are dyed crimson to vermilion. The rear edge of the wing occurs between Apex and until shortly before the Analwinkel out clearly black. Head, thorax and abdomen are moderately to very hairy and black. The antennae are long and slender and weakly clavate. They are tapered. The females are similar to males, among them the head of the forewing is somewhat rounded, abdomen and thorax are less hairy. The front wings shimmer green. The species is very variable, with some populations converging stains were found on the front wings. In Western, Central and Eastern Europe the subspecies Z. l lonicerae spread, which is characterized by the features mentioned above. The moths of the populations in the Alpine regions are significantly larger, those from southern Europe are usually darker and the rear edge of the wing is wider. In the subspecies Z. l children manni the forewing shining strong indigo blue or green.
The similar species include the marsh trefoil Burnet ( Zygaena trifolii ), but which is smaller and has wider front wings with abgerundeterem Apex. The spots 3 and 4 are often run together. From Six -spot Burnet ( Zygaena filipendulae ) the trefoil Burnet distinguished by the comparatively weak translucent coloring, larger forewing spots and the narrow edge of the hind wing. Z. lonicerae and Z. Filipendulae also genitalmorphologisch are distinguishable. The spots are smaller and crimson, the dark edge of the hind wing is very broad and often occupies most part of the rear wing, so that only a small red Diskalfleck remains. The degree of melanism varies within and between populations.
The eggs are pale yellow.
The caterpillars reach a length 19 to 28 mm. They are bluish-green or pale yellow. The back is bright, on segments 1-9 are located on either side of the back of each two black spots. In each segment, the front spot is formed larger and rectangular, the posterior spot is narrower. From 2nd to 9th segment is located below each Dorsalfleck a yellow spot. The caterpillars have long black hair, they are significantly longer than in Filipendulae Z. and Z trifolii.
The pupa is brown to black. The cocoon is spindle-shaped and wider than that of the Six-spot Widderchens and marsh trefoil - Widderchens.
Dissemination
The distribution area of the trefoil - Widderchens ranges from Ireland and Fennoscandia to the West of China. In the south, the kind of northern and central Spain, southern Europe has spread to Turkey and the Caucasus.
In Western Europe, dry to mesophilic areas in coastal areas, open forests and subalpine mats are populated ( up to 2000 meters above sea level ) is preferred.
Biology
The females lay eggs in July in single Located on the underside of leaves of fodder plants or plants that grow in close proximity to these from. The larvae live on the following plants: Middle clover ( Trifolium medium), mountain clover ( Trifolium montanum ), red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover ( Trifolium repens ), meadow pea ( Lathyrus pratensis), mountain - pea ( Lathyrus linifolius ), seed - pea ( Lathyrus sativus ) seeds sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia ), Common Fenugreek ( Lotus corniculatus ), marsh trefoil ( Lotus uliginosus ), forest - vetch (Vicia sylvatica). They eat until late summer, overwinter, and set the development continued in the following year. The end of May are fully grown, the caterpillars. Not yet grown caterpillars overwinter a second time. They pupate in an elongated yellowish or white cocoon of grasses and other plants. The moths fly in late June to early August. They suck preferred to blue-violet flowers such as on field scabious ( Knautia arvensis), Dove Pincushion Flower ( Scabiosa columbaria ), meadow knapweed (Centaurea jacea ), panicles Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ), creeping thistle ( Cirsium arvense), Knolliger thistle ( Cirsium tuberosum) and ring thistles ( Carduus ). Each year, a new generation developed. Caterpillars and pupae are occasionally parasitized by tachinid ( Phryxe magnicornis ) and brackish species of wasps.
Threats and conservation
The trefoil Burnet is guided in the Red List BRD as a kind of early warning ( " Level V ").
System
There are currently the following subspecies:
- Zygaena lonicerae insularis Tremewan, 1960
- Zygaena lonicerae intermixta Verity, 1925
- Zygaena lonicerae jocelynae Tremewan, 1962
- Zygaena lonicerae latomarginata ( Tutt, 1899)
- Zygaena lonicerae leonensis Tremewan, 1961
- Zygaena lonicerae Linnei Reiss, 1922
- Zygaena lonicerae lonicerae ( Scheveningen, 1777)
- Zygaena lonicerae microdoxa Dujardin, 1965
- Zygaena lonicerae Silana Burgeff, 1914
- Zygaena lonicerae thurneri Holik, 1943
- Zygaena lonicerae vivax Verity, 1920