Chelis cervini (Fallou, 1864)

Host plants:
The species is polyphagous. I found a caterpillar feeding on Poa alpina and another on Saxifraga.

Habitat:
Chelis cervini inhabits sun exposed scree slopes of the high Alps from 2000 to 3200m above sea level (particularly 2800-3000m). The caterpillars can be observed feeding during the day especially in the spring.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters usually twice, sometimes probably even three times. In spring, pupation takes place quickly (under heat retaining stones) and the moth flies from July to mid-August. The eggs are also laid on the underside of flat stones.

Endangerment factors:
In some places, Chelis cervini might be endangered in spite of the height by tourist development, just think of the Zermatt region.

Remarks:
Chelis cervini is found in the high altitudes of the central Alps (Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy) and is always extremely local and missing in wide areas. Populations are known, for example, from the Austrian Ötztal (also in adjacent Italy), the Swiss Grisons and Valais, in France in Les Écrins. Chelis cervini forms several sub-species, which differ in the colour and further details.