Aporophyla lutulenta (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Aporophyla lutulenta: Female (e.l. district of Böblingen, S-Germany, 2009) [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Female (e.l. district of Böblingen, S-Germany, 2009) [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Young larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Half-grown larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Half-grown larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Half-grown larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Half-grown larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Larva (they are quite variable, but in the field most often green) Aporophyla lutulenta: Larva [S] Aporophyla lutulenta: Observation site of a larva near Magstadt in the district of Böblingen (Baden-Württemberg) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives very polyphagous on herbs. I found them on Ranunculus bulbosus (Northern Greece) and Sanguisorba officinalis (Böblingen, Southern Germany).

Habitat:
Aporophyla lutulenta inhabits warm, dry to moderately moist and only extensively managed open land habitats.

Life cycle:
The young caterpillar overwinters and is mature mainly in April and May (early June). The prepupa rests for a long period and the moths fly in the autumn (September/October).

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Presumably, this species is currently spreading as a result of global warming. Nevertheless, it is at risk north of the Alps, because it requires extensive habitats and these represent only a trace element in todays over-fertilized and over-exploited landscape.

Remarks:
Aporophyla lutulenta is distributed locally in Southern and Central Europe. In Central Europe it is only found in warm, low-lying areas. Here it is, however, currently spreading a bit.



Aporophyla nigra 
German version / deutsche Version