Ammoconia caecimacula (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Ammoconia caecimacula: Female (Engadine, Switzerland, 15/09/2007) [N] Ammoconia caecimacula: Female (Engadine, Switzerland, 15/09/2007) [N] Ammoconia caecimacula: Larva in last instar [S] Ammoconia caecimacula: Larva (Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [S] Ammoconia caecimacula: Typical habitat on the eastern Swabian Alb (2009) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous, often on flowers. I found caterpillars for example at the base of Dianthus carthusianorum with partly eaten blossoms.

Habitat:
Ammoconia caecimacula inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands, edges and dry open forests.

Life cycle:
The egg overwinters. The caterpillar is observed from late April to June. Moths fly from late August to early October.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
Ammoconia caecimacula is in decline north of the Alps due to the loss of nutrient-poor grasslands.

Remarks:
The moth is widespread in Europe and Western Asia.


German version / deutsche Version