Acronicta tridens (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives polyphagous on deciduous woods as blackthorn (Prunus), Salix (willow) and Quercus (oak). I found caterpillars in Northern Greece (Askio Mountains) along with Acronicta orientalis at Paliurus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) in July 2010.

Habitat:
Acronicta tridens inhabits mostly warm habitats such as bushy grassland slopes, scrub, warm forest edges etc. It is also found in moist habitats (observations in 2011 on Salix cinerea in damp thickets in the Upper Rhine Valley).

Life cycle:
The moths usually fly in two generations from late April to June and from mid-July to early September. The caterpillars are found from June to early October. The pupa overwinters.

Endangerment factors:
Acronicta tridens is endangered at least in some regions such as in Central Europe as habitats decline through agricultural intensification, overbuilding and succession.

Remarks:
Acronicta tridens is widespread in Europe and is missing especially in Northern Scandinavia. In temperate Asia it occurs east to Japan. In Europe, Acronicta tridens is more common in the Mediterranean. In North Africa there is a closely related taxon.