Change in the life history trait? – an alternative overwintering strategy of the Macaria fusca (Thunberg, 1792) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Change in the life history trait? – an alternative overwintering strategy of the Macaria fusca (Thunberg, 1792) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae)

Authors: Koistinen, Max; Andersson, Tommi

Publisher: Norwegian Entomological Society

Publication year: 2024

Journal: Norwegian Journal of Entomology

Volume: 71

Issue: 1

First page : 109

Last page: 112

ISSN: 1501-8415

eISSN: 1894-0692

Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access

Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel

Web address : http://www.entomologi.no/journals/nje/2024-1/nje-vol71-no1-2024-109-112.pdf

Abstract

Macaria fusca (Thunberg, 1792) is a small geometer moth species that inhabits mountain heathland just above the timberline and occasionally warm forest openings in the mountains. Existing literature describes the species overwintering as a half-grown larva. However, in our observations, we detected an alternative overwintering strategy of M. fusca as a half-developed egg, contrary to the claims in the literature. Additionally, we briefly describe the rearing methods of the species and document what appears to be the first known outbreak of the species.