{{Short description|Species of geometer moth}} {{italic title}} {{Speciesbox | name = ''Eupithecia actaeata'' | image = Eupithecia actaeata01.jpg | image2 = Eupithecia actaeata02.jpg | taxon = Eupithecia actaeata | authority = Walderdorff, 1869<ref>{{cite web |last=Yu |first=Dicky Sick Ki |url=http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?taxonidLC=82839325 |title=''Eupithecia actaeata'' Walderdorff 1869 |website=Home of Ichneumonoidea |publisher=Taxapad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325032819/http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?taxonidLC=82839325 |archive-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref> | synonyms ={{species list |Eupithecia bergunensis |Dietze, 1875<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/> |Eupithecia acteata |(misspelling)<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/> |Eupithecia praenubilata |Inoue, 1958<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/>}} }} '''''Eupithecia actaeata''''' is a Eurasian species of moth of the family Geometridae. It was first recognised as a distinct species when Herrich-Schäffer described the adult moth from larvae and pupae collected by Hugo von Walderdorff on ''Actaea spicata''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Zoologisch-mineralogischer Verein |first=Regensburg |url=http://archive.org/details/correspondenzbla231869zool |title=Correspondenz-blatt des Zoologisch-mineralogischen Vereins in Regensburg |last2=Zoologisch-mineralogischer Verein |first2=Regensburg Korrespondenz-blatt 1847-54 |date=1847 |publisher=Regensburg, Zoologisch-mineralogischer Verein |others=Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University}}</ref>
==Description==
=== Adult === ''E. actaeata'' has a wingspan of 19–24 mm,<ref name="Mironov-2003" /> with broader wings than is typical for ''Eupithecia'' species.<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013" /> Both wing pairs are grey,<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013" /> brownish-grey,<ref name="Mironov-2003" /> or brown,<ref name="Choi-Kim-2015" /> with somewhat paler hind than forewings.<ref name="Mironov-2003" /><ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013" />
A key identifying feature is a prominent black discal spot on the forewing, often accompanied by two darker spots near the leading edge, forming an approximate triangle. These markings help distinguish it from related species such as ''E. tripunctata.''<ref name=":0" /> In contrast with several relatives, dark costal spots are normally present, and the inner transverse line may be faint.
=== Larva === Larvae hatch translucent whitish and gradually become green, with a bluish underside and yellowish segment divisions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Ellis" /> The dorsal line is darker and semi-translucent, and the anal plate is reddish-brown. The head and thoracic legs are brownish-yellow with small black dots.<ref name=":0" /> Fine short black hairs are scattered on the body.
Mid-instar larvae sometimes develop reddish-brown, diamond-shaped markings along the middle abdominal segments, especially in captivity, though these marks are variable and often absent in wild specimens.<ref name=":0" />
Larvae feed by creating circular holes from the centre of the leaf outward rather than starting at the edges.<ref name=":0" /> They usually remain motionless on the underside of leaves or along stems, blending in with the host plant.
=== Pupa === Pupation occurs in the soil within a loose cocoon'''.''' The pupa is short and stout, with green wing cases and a yellowish-brown posterior that darkens toward the cremaster, which bears small hooks for anchoring.<ref name=":0" />
=== Egg === Eggs are deposited on the underside of ''Actaea'' leaves. They are glossy white, slightly oval, and typically one per leaf.<ref name=":0" />
==Subspecies== *''Eupithecia actaeata actaeata'' *''Eupithecia actaeata praenubilata'' <small>Inoue, 1958</small>
==Distribution== ===Europe=== Within Europe, ''E. actaeata'' is found from France eastwards, where it is widely distributed in northern, central and eastern Europe,<ref name="Mironov-2003"/> and has only local distribution south of the Alps.<ref name="Wagner"/>
===Asia=== In Asia, ''E. actaeata'' ranges from the southern Urals to Mongolia,<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2014"/> China (Qinghai and Shaanxi), Japan, the Russian Far East, Taiwan<ref name="Mironov-2003"/> and Korea.<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/><ref name="Choi-Kim-2015"/>
==Habitat and host plants== ''E. actaeata'' has been found at altitudes from sea level up to 2000m in Europe<ref name="Mironov-2003"/> and between 1600 and 3000m in China.<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/> It is found in forests with a presence of ''Actaea spicata'' (baneberry),<ref name="Mironov-2003"/><ref name="Wagner"/> its main host plant. In north-western Europe, it is found predominantly in closed spruce forests.<ref name="Hydén-1990"/> In Asia, it has been found on another species of ''Actaea''.<ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013"/> Other known host plants are ''Thalictrum aquilegiifolium'' and ''Thalictrum flavum''.<ref name="Mironov-2003"/> ''Viburnum opulus'' has also been mentioned in scientific literature,<ref name="Mironov-2003"/> but might be erroneous.<ref name="Ellis"/>
==Life cycle== ''Eupithecia actaeata'' generally produces two generations per year in favourable conditions.<ref name="Wagner" /> Eggs hatch after several days, and larvae develop for approximately four to six weeks.<ref name=":0" />
The pupal stage usually lasts a few weeks, though some pupae overwinter before emerging as adults. Development time varies with environmental conditions, and under captive conditions a partial third generation may occasionally occur.<ref name=":0" />
== Parasitoids == Larvae are commonly parasitised by ichneumonid wasps, which spin small black cocoons with pale bands. Jumping ichneumonid cocoons, similar to those recorded from ''E. trisignata'', have also been observed in ''E. actaeata.''<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="Wagner">{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Wolfgang |title=''Eupithecia'' |url=http://www.pyrgus.de/Eupithecia_en.html |website=European Lepidoptera and their ecology |access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref> <ref name="Ellis">{{cite web |last1=Ellis |first1=W.N. |title=''Eupithecia actaeata'' – Plant Parasites of Europe |url=https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/apoditrysia/macrolepidoptera/geometridae/larentiinae/eupitheciini/eupithecia/eupithecia-actaeata/ |website=bladmineerders.nl |access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="Mironov-2003">{{cite book |last1=Mironov |first1=Vladimir |title=Larentinae II: (Perizomini and Eupitheciini) |date=2003 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-30863-3 |pages=174–175 |url=https://brill.com/display/title/23991 |access-date=22 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2013">{{cite book |last1=Mironov |first1=Vladimir |last2=Galsworthy |first2=Anthony Charles |title=The Eupithecia of China: A Revision |date=1 November 2013 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-25453-4 |pages=232–233 |url=https://brill.com/display/title/24316 |access-date=22 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="Mironov-Galsworthy-2014">{{cite journal |last1=Mironov |first1=Vladimir |last2=Galsworthy |first2=Anthony Charles |title=A survey of ''Eupithecia'' Curtis, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) in Mongolia with descriptions of two new species |journal=Zootaxa |date=5 March 2014 |volume=3774 |issue=2 |pages=101–130 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3774.2.1|pmid=24871410 }}</ref> <ref name="Choi-Kim-2015">{{cite journal |last1=Choi |first1=Sei-Woong |last2=Kim |first2=Sung-Soo |title=New Records of Seven Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Korea |journal=Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity |date=30 April 2015 |volume=31 |issue=2 |page=132 |doi=10.5635/ASED.2015.31.2.128 |s2cid=86626630 |url=https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO201514751394256.page |access-date=22 January 2023|doi-access=free }}</ref> <ref name="Hydén-1990">{{cite journal |last1=Hydén |first1=Nils |title=Baptria tibiale och Eupithecia actaeata (Lep., Geometridae) i Nordvästeuropa – utbredning, biologi, äggläggning och habitatval |journal=Entomologisk Tidskrift |date=1990 |volume=111 |issue=1 |url=https://www.sef.nu/download/entomologisk_tidskrift/et_1990/ET%201990%201-15w.pdf |at=Abstract |trans-title=Baptria tibiale (Esper) and Eupithecia actaeata (Walderdorff) (Lep., Geometridae) in NW Europe – distribution, biology, oviposition and preferred habitats}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160308221002/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=444827 Fauna Europaea] *[http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Actaeata Lepiforum.de] *[http://www2.nrm.se/en/svenska_fjarilar/e/eupithecia_actaeata.html Swedish Moths] {{Taxonbar|from=Q142163}}
Category:Moths described in 1869 actaeata Category:Moths of Asia Category:Moths of Europe
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