Abrostola triplasia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Urtica dioica.

Habitat:
Typical larval habitats are nettle fringes in forests, hedges, along streams, margins and also partly in open country or in not too clean gardens.

Life cycle:
Abrostola triplasia has two generations, of which the second is usually not complete. The moths fly mostly from May to September. Caterpillars are increasingly found from July to early October. The pupa overwinters. In mid- and late October 2011 I observed still quite small caterpillars several times on stream banks (Unterallgäu, Ostalbkreis, both Germany), which originate from late September moths and should reach maturity and pupation in the field only partially.

Remarks:
The moth is widespread and often common at lower altitudes. It rises in the mountains not as high as Abrstola tripartita. The overall distribution ranges from Northwest Africa across nearly all of Europe to Eastern Siberia.