Agrochola lota (Clerck, 1759)

Host plants:
Salix species, more rarely also Populus.

Habitat:
Agrochola lota inhabits softwood rich wooded areas, particularly wet clearings, floodplains, wetlands and river banks. The larvae are found on both older and younger willows.

Life cycle:
The egg hibernates and the (young) larva can be tapped in May. Full grown it hides on the ground or in the trunk area, e.g. under bark. The caterpillar feeds from April to June and creates then the pupal shelter (mostly on the ground), but the pupation takes place only a few weeks later. The moth flies in the autumn (September to early November).

Remarks:
Agrochola lota is widespread and usually not uncommon. It occurs from the Maghreb across most of Europe and further across temperate Asia to the Altai.