Rheumaptera subhastata (Nolcken, 1870)


Rheumaptera subhastata: Adult (e.l. W-Austria, Silvretta, larva in late August 2013) [S] Rheumaptera subhastata: Adult (e.l. W-Austria, Silvretta, larva in late August 2013) [S] Rheumaptera subhastata: Adult (e.l. W-Austria, Silvretta, larva in late August 2013) [S] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larva (W-Austria, Silvretta, late August 2013) [M] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larva (W-Austria, Silvretta, August 2013) [M] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larva (W-Austria, Silvretta, August 2013) [M] Rheumaptera subhastata: Pupa (e.l. Silvretta 2013) [S] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larval habitat in the W-Austrian Silvretta in late August 2013 [N] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larval habitat in the Silvretta (August 2013) [S] Rheumaptera subhastata: Larval habitat in the Silvretta (August 2013) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar feeds on blueberry, especially Vaccinium uliginosum.

Habitat:
Rheumaptera subhastata inhabits bogs and also Alpine dwarf shrub communities with Vaccinium uliginosum.

Life cycle:
The moths are on the wing between May and early August (according to altitude) during the daytime. The larvae are found between mid-June and September in shelters - spun leaves of shoot tips. I recorded them quite abundant between 1800 and 2000m asl in the West Austrian Silvretta (Central Alps). The pupa hibernates.

Endangerment factors:
Rheumaptera subhastata is severly endangered especially in Central Europe outside the Alps, because bogs have declined seriously and the remaining ones are often far beyond being safe due to problems in water balance, continous nutrient input and climate change.

Remarks:
Rheumaptera subhastata is recorded from Central and Northern Europe to East Asia and is also said to occur in North America.



Rheumaptera cervinalis | Rheumaptera hastata | Rheumaptera undulata