Albarracina warionis (Oberthür, 1881)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Ephedra species.

Habitat:
Albarracina warionis inhabits dry and warm places with the localized host plant. Most often garigues, maquis, pastures, rocky slopes or open woodlands are involved.

Life cycle:
The larvae hibernate. I recorded them quite mature near Zaragoza (Spain, Monegros) in late May 2018. During daytime the larvae often rested a bit concealed on the stem of the host plant, but sometimes also openly. Pupation took place in June, sometimes after a (short) dormancy of the mature larva. Eclosion occurred from late June to late July. In the field a (partial) retardation of the flight time into autumn is probable, e.g. in dry and hot N-Africa. Supposedly the mature larva will aestivate there and construct the cocoon not until late summer/early autumn. But this must be examined in the field.
In Africa moths already appear from spring (e.g. April). There it may also possible that the larva aestivates and hibernates. The literature hint on a second generation may trace back to retarded eclosion, but a real second generation is not impossible, too. The real facts are thus not known yet.

The eggs are deposited in long single rows with secretion bars on the outer sides and a coverage of female abdominal hair. The larvae hatched after about two weeks.

Endangerment factors:
Albarracina warionis has already been pushed back by infrastructure measures (urban sprawl, roads, industry) and agriculture.

Remarks:
Albarracina warionis occurs in N-Africa and locally in Spain (e.g. Zaragoza, Madrid, Teruel, Cuenca, Andalucia).

The larval hairs are causing even more trouble than those of e.g. Thaumetopoea processionea!