Acrostira bellamyi (Uvarov, 1922)
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_1_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_2_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_3_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_4_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_5_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_6_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_7_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Female (La Gomera, 1000m NN, Ermita de las Nieves, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_8_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_9_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_10_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_11_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_12_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_13_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_14_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Larger female larva on Euphorbia lamarckii (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Young larva (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_15_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Young larva (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Young larva (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_16_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Young larva (La Gomera, Valle Hermosa, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii (front left) on a dry slope in about 250m asl (larva observation, February 2013). The laurel forest is here quite far away. [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_h_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii (front left) on a dry slope in about 250m asl (larva observation, February 2013). The laurel forest is here quite far away. [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii on a dry slope in about 350m asl (larvae observation, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_2h_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii on a dry slope in about 350m asl (larvae observation, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii on a dry slope in about 350m asl (larvae observation, February 2013) [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_3h_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa: Euphorbia lamarckii on a dry slope in about 350m asl (larvae observation, February 2013) [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa between 350 and 600m asl (February 2013). Here I also observed Arminda latifrons, Calliptamus plebejus und Larven von Calliphona gomerensis. [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_4h_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Reproduction habitat in the Valle Hermosa between 350 and 600m asl (February 2013). Here I also observed Arminda latifrons, Calliptamus plebejus und Larven von Calliphona gomerensis. [N]")
![Acrostira bellamyi: Observation site of an adult in 1000m asl in the typical clouds of the trade wind zone (February 2013). [N]](bilder1/pamphagidae/bellamyi_5h_2013.jpg "Acrostira bellamyi: Observation site of an adult in 1000m asl in the typical clouds of the trade wind zone (February 2013). [N]")
Nutrition:
The species develops on Euphorbia lamarckii (= E. obtusifolia).
Habitat:
Acrostira bellamyi inhabits slopes often in contact with the laurel forest zone which show a rich occurrence of Euphorbia lamarckii especially in medium high and higher altitudes (from 250m until more than 1300m NN). I observed larvae on partially xerothermic slopes down to 250m asl in Valle Hermosa, whereas adults were found in 1000m asl (February 2013). According to literature, Acrostira bellamyi inhabits also clearings in the laurel forest without Euphorbia as a partial habitat (only adults?).
Life cycle:
I observed larvae in lower elevations in February 2013 and adults at higher ones. Acrostira bellamyi can probably be found all the year. The main larval period should be between late winter and spring/early summer. The larvae were very stationary on the Euphorbia lamarckii. A surveyed single specimen sat still on the same plant after 8 days.
The adults are much more mobile(obviously especially at night or damp foggy weather) and can be seen walking and hopping on the ground. This is much rarer the case with the other Acrostira species.
Altogether Acrostira bellamyi is still very poorly understood. So it is unknown why the specimens are often seen in the laurel forest far away from the next Euphorbia stocks which do not grow in the laurel forest. If and what the animals eat in this time is another open question. The laurel forest possibly has sometimes a more suitable climate than the Euphorbia-slopes, but this could explain only parts.
Endangerment factors:
Acrostira bellamyi is endangered. In August 2012, a large bush fire destroyed significant parts of the supposed reproductive areas in the region Arure-Las Hayas-Chipude-Roque Agando in La Gomera. Additionally, more and more parts of the supposed reproduction areas with Euphorbia on the southern border of the Garajonay National Park are converted into vineyards (with EU-promotion). At least the medium high and higher Euphorbia-occurrences should be strictly protected and kept in direct contact with the laurisilva woodland.
Remarks:
Acrostira bellamyi is endemic to La Gomera (Spain, Canaries).
Acrostira euphorbiae | Acrostira tamarani | Acrostira tenerifae
