Aglia tau (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larva feeds on deciduous trees, mostly beech, lime, elm, but also oak, birch, etc.

Habitat:
Aglia tau inhabits most forests with a greater or lesser proportion of beech. But it can be found also for example in riparian forests etc. without Fagus.

Life cycle:
Adults appear from late March to late May, in altitudes of about 1500m asl even in June. The eggs are deposited on the trunk and branches. Caterpillars are found from May to July. The pupa overwinters in a loose cocoon in the litter.

Endangerment factors:
Aglia tau is not endangered, but often suffers losses through dark forest management with conifers.

Remarks:
Aglia tau occors from Northern Spain across parts of Europe and temperate Asia to the Pacific. In Europe it misses in the north (Northern Scandinavia) and extreme south (southern Mediterranean) and on the British Isles.