Subspecies
(1) Archiearis notha notha (Huebner, 1803)
(2) Archiearis notha okanoi (Inoue, 1958)
(3) Archiearis notha suifunensis (Kardakoff, 1928)
Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Germany.
Synonyms
Synonymy of Archiearis notha notha:
Phalaena hyemalis Giorna, 1791 (nec Retzius, 1783; junior primary homonym)
Noctua notha (Huebner, 1803)
Archiearis notha (Huebner, 1803)
Archiearis notha notha (Huebner, 1803)
Brephos nothum (Huebner, 1803)
Boudinotiana notha (Huebner, 1803)
Brephos nothum laeta Rebel, 1910 (infrasubspecific)
Archiearis nota auct. (misspelling)
Archiearis nothoa auct. (misspelling)
ab. cuprina Cockayne, 1952
ab. diluta Cockayne, 1952
ab. intermedia Cockayne, 1952
ab. obscura Cockayne, 1952
Additional German name: Mittleres Jungfernkind.
Identification
Forewing length 15-17 mm. Similar to Archiearis parthenias, but smaller
and usually without clear white markings on the upper side of the
forewings. The antennae of the males also differ between the two
species. In Archiearis notha the antennae are feathered, whereas in
Archiearis parthenias they are only serrated.
Special characters in the larva: in contrast to the larvae of higher geometrid moths, the larvae of the present species retain
all four proleg pairs. However, the prolegs on abdominal segments 3-5
are shorter than the proleg pair on abdominal segment 6, thus
illustrating an evolutionary intermediate between the fully developed
prolegs in the lepidopteran ground plan and the fully reduced prolegs on
abdominal segments 3-5 in the higher Geometridae.
Distribution
Widely distributed in Europe and Asia, and also doubtfully reported for
northern Africa. In Germany recorded from all Bundesländer, but usually
not a common species.
Biology
The larvae feed on Aspen (Populus tremula), and maybe other species of
the genus Populus. Several authors also give Willow (genus Salix) as a
food plant, but this is unconfirmed and may refer to Archiearis touranginii. In
the lab, however, the larvae can be sustained on a wide variety of
leaves including Willow and Hazel (genus Corylus).
The imagines feed on nectar (predominantly of Willow catkins) and also
are attracted to puddles, mud and animal feces (of horses, cows and
dogs).
The species prefers open deciduous woodland that offers plenty of both Aspen
and Willow (e.g. riparian forests).
The imagines fly from February until April/early May and are active during the
day. They often fly together in a swarm around tree tops in the direct
sunlight. The females deposit the eggs in small groups on Aspen twigs.
The egg-laying behavior is virtually identical to Archiearis parthenias
(see there). The larvae
hatch after one or a few weeks after egg deposition (depending on the
temperature) between March and May and live hidden in leaves that they
spin together with silk. For
pupation the larvae hide beneath loose soft bark, pupate and overwinter as a
pupa. Eclosion may occur in the next year, or after a period of 2-3 years.