Amphipyra berbera Rungs, 1949

Host plants:
The larva is polyphagous on deciduous wood. I found it on Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus and Salix caprea.

Habitat:
Amphipyra berbera settles in wooded areas and on the edge of woods or in other convenient locations. Apparently Amphipyra berbera requires more warmth than Amphipyra pyramidea that should occur syntopically at all sites of Amphipyra berbera.

Life cycle:
The egg hibernates as with Amphipyra pyramidea and caterpillars can be found between late April and June. The flight time resembles Amphipyra berbera of comparison, too.

Remarks:
Amphipyra berbera is indeed also widespread, but individual-poorer than Amphipyra pyramidea in many sites. It often lacks higher elevated, cool habitats.
The overall distribution ranges from Northwest Africa across large parts of Europe to Asia Minor and the Caucasus.

Hints on determination:
The thoracal feet of the larvae are contrary to literature not always black, but sometimes also green with black dots. But the lateral line is always solid, even if it is a bit weaker in the transit zone breast-abdomen. Probably the extent of blackish colour depends on the host plant. A weaker blackish clour makes sense with the large leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus, where the larvae rest on the lower side.

Typical and easily distinguished from A. pyramidea is also the hump at the terminal abdomen which is obviously always more elongated and distal reddish in Amphipyra berbera.

There is possibly rare hybridization between both species in the field.