Adscita graeca (Jordan, 1907)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Centaurea, Carduus and Cirsium species, rarely also other Asteraceae. In literature listed are amongst others Centaurea melitensis, Cirsium solstitialis und Cirsium creticum. I recorded the larvae and ovipositions on Centaurea acicularis (Samos Island, Karvouni and Lazarou mountain).

Habitat:
In Samos Island (Greece) Adscita graeca inhabits especially rocky areas with the host plant (open, sparsely vegetated garrigue, embankments, road sides, screes and rocks), elsewhere also nutrient-poor grasslands and pastures.

Life cycle:
In Samos Island the moths occur between mid-May and June, elswhere also until July. Oviposition usually occurs singly (observations in May 2014) in the hair felt of the leaves of the host plant. The larvae hibernate. I recorded fully-grown larvae on the basis of feeding scars not rarely (Samos, Ambelos mountains: Karvouni and Lazarou, late March 2016).

Remarks:
The Ponto-Mediterranean species is found from Southern Slovakia across Hungary and the Balkans to S-Russia, Asia Minor and the Caucasus region to Iran. In Lower Austria it has been found only once a century ago.