Host plants:
The caterpillars live on Pancratium maritimum and related genera such as Drimia (maritima). In rearing they accept readily Narcissus leaves.
Habitat:
Brithys crini inhabits especially coastal dunes with the presence of the larval host plant.
Life cycle:
I found the caterpillar in Sardinia in mid-May 2012 and eggs and younger larvae on Sicily in late April 2023. The moths are variable in colour and fly from late March to May and then again in an at least partial second generation in July-September. The caterpillars are thus probably most likely to occur from late April to June and again in August-October.
The eggs are deposited in larger batches on leaves of the host plant. The caterpillars live at least initially sociable and mine in the leaves. Later they eat in a sort of scraping on the leaves and eat parts of the leaves totally. They scatter a bit in last instar. Pupation takes place in the sand.
Endangerment factors:
Brithys crini is highly endangered in Europe as the European shores are extremely affected by redevelopment and tourism (infrastructure, bathing) such as for extremely heavily in the Côte d'Azur. Their habitats deserve unconditional protection!
Remarks:
The subtropical species occurs in Europe especially on the coasts from Portugal through Spain and southern France to Italy and Greece (Peloponnese). In Sardinia it is locally still common.
Further Brithys crini is found in parts of Africa (including South Africa), S-Asia and Australia. It is sometimes accidentally introduced into other regions.