Apamea illyria Freyer, 1846


Apamea illyria: Adult (e.p. Valais, Zermatt, June 2010) [S] Apamea illyria: Adult (e.p. Valais, Zermatt, June 2010) [S] Apamea illyria: Adult (July 2008, Kanisfluh, Vorarlberg, west Austrian Alps, at bait) [M] Apamea illyria: Half-grown larva (Oktoner 2009, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [S] Apamea illyria: Half-grown larva (October 2009, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [S] Apamea illyria: Half-grown larva (October 2009, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [S] Apamea illyria: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, October 2009) [S] Apamea illyria: Pupa (Valais, Zermatt, 2200m above sea level, early June 2010) [S] Apamea illyria: Typical habitat in autumn at the time of the young larvae (eastern Swabian Alb 2009) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on grasses, especially Calamagrostis. In early October 2009 I found larvae on Calamagrostis epigejos on the eastern Swabian Alb.

Habitat:
The more montainous species inhabits grassy places, inner woodland edges and clearcuttings in forests from the hilly stage up to the tree line. In Valais, I found a pupa at 2200m above sea level (early July 2010).

Life cycle:
The caterpillars live prior to the winter especially in the grass flowers and fruit stands, but from late autumn to spring on the ground. They are mature already in early spring. The moths fly from May to July/August (depending on altitude).

Remarks:
Apamea illyria is mainly distributed in the mountains and is particularly found in the Alps, in northern foreland of the Alps or in lower mountainous areas (Swabian Alb, Black Forest, etc.). The total distribution extends across Europe and Asia Minor.



Apamea aquila | Apamea characterea | Apamea crenata | Apamea furva | Apamea lateritia | Apamea lithoxylaea | Apamea maillardi | Apamea monoglypha | Apamea platinea | Apamea ramonae | Apamea remissa | Apamea rubrirena | Apamea scolopacina | Apamea sordens | Apamea sphagnicola | Apamea sublustris | Apamea unanimis | Apamea zeta 
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