Acronicta euphorbiae (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Acronicta euphorbiae: Adult [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Adult [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: L1 [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Young larva [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Half-grown larva [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (Allgaeu Alps) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (N-Greece, Vitsi N Kastoria, late June 2013) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (N-Greece, Vitsi N Kastoria, late June 2013) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (N-Greece, Vitsi N Kastoria, late June 2013) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (N-Greece, Vitsi N Kastoria, late June 2013) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva [M] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (Lechtal, Forchach, September 2011) [N] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva [M] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larva (N-Greece, Vitsi N Kastoria, late June 2013) [S] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larval habitat on nutrient-poor pastures in the Allgaeu Alps (Germany, August 2012). [N] Acronicta euphorbiae: Larval habitat in the Lech Valley near Forchach (Austria, 2010). Here I found several larvae over the years (late summer). [N]

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous. I found them in the Alps often at Alchemilla sp. and once at Gentiana punctata.

Habitat:
Acronicta euphorbiae inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands, alpine meadows, dry gravel banks along alpine rivers, rocky slopes and similar habitats.

Life cycle:
Acronicta euphorbiae flies in one or two generations from April to August. Only a single generation is observed at higher altitudes in June/July. I found caterpillars in the Alps from July to September.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
North of the Alps, Acronicta euphorbiae is highly threatened due to its higher habitat and space requirements. However, in the Alps, where there are still vast extensive habitats, it is one of the more common species.

Remarks:
Acronicta euphorbiae is locally distributed from Morocco through Europe and temperate Asia to China.



Acronicta aceris | Acronicta alni | Acronicta auricoma | Acronicta cuspis | Acronicta leporina | Acronicta megacephala | Acronicta menyanthidis | Acronicta orientalis | Acronicta psi | Acronicta rumicis | Acronicta tridens 
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