''Siona lineata'', the black-veined moth, is a
moth of the family
Geometridae. The species was
first described by
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 ''
Entomologia Carniolica''.
Subspecies
Subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
include:
* ''Siona lineata lineata''
(Scopoli, 1763)
* ''Siona lineata oenotriensis''
(Staudinger, 1915)
Distribution
This rather common species can be found throughout Europe. It is quite rare in the United Kingdom,
[ only being found in east Kent.][Peder Sko]
The Geometroid Moths of North Europe (Lepidoptera: Drepanidae and Geometridae)
/ref>
Habitat
These moths inhabit limestone and chalk grassland, rough downland, open woodlands, pastures and grassy areas.[Bob Gibbon]
''Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe''
/ref>
Description
The wingspan is 35–40 mm.[Black-veined moth on ''UKMoths'']
/ref> Wings are white or cream coloured with dusky veins in the upperside and black or dark brown veins on the underside.[ The underside of the wings usually shows also a blackish transverse stripe beyond the middle, very faint in the hindwings. Fresh butterflies are usually cream coloured, but as they get older, the wings are becoming whiter. With the disappearance of the scales the black veins on the undersides become increasingly visible on the uppersides through the wings.][
The head is small, with large and globose lateral eyes. Legs are long and slender. The males have a long slender abdomen with a curved upward end, while in the females the abdomen is stouter and not curved. The females are also smaller and with more angular wings. In the females the abdomen has three longitudinal black lines.][''De Vlinderstichting'']
/ref>
Biology
The moth flies during the day in one generation from the beginning of May to the end of June . The caterpillar feeds on various herbs, (''Origanum majorana
Marjoram (; ''Origanum majorana'') is a cold-sensitive perennial herb or undershrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. In some Middle Eastern countries, marjoram is synonymous with oregano, and there the names sweet marjoram and knotted ma ...
'', '' Dactylis glomerata'', ''Hypericum maculatum
''Hypericum maculatum'', commonly known as imperforate St John's-wort, or spotted St. Johnswort, is a species of perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is native to Europe and Western Asia where it grows in moist m ...
'', '' Vicia'' species, ''Galium verum
''Galium verum'' (lady's bedstraw or yellow bedstraw) is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Rubiaceae. It is widespread across most of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia from Israel, Lebanon and Turkey to Japan and Kamchatka. It is ...
'', '' Solidago virgaurea'', '' Achillea millefolium'', '' Tanacetum vulgare''), and woody plants (''Salix aurita
''Salix aurita'', the eared willow, is a species of willow distributed over much of Europe, and occasionally cultivated. It is a shrub to 2.5 m in height, distinguished from the similar but slightly larger ''Salix cinerea'' by its reddish ...
'', '' Viburnum opulus'').[
]
Gallery
Image:Butterfly Siona lineata (Scopoli, 1763)1.jpg, Mating
Image:Siona lineata02.jpg, Female laying eggs
Image:Siona lineata - Wollenberg 2011.ogv, Video clip
Notes
#''The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
References
External links
''Lepiforum e.V.''
* Kimmo Silvone
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1467389
Ennominae
Moths described in 1763
Moths of Europe
Moths of Asia
Taxa named by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
Articles containing video clips