Coscinia bifasciata (Rambur, 1832)

Host plants:
The caterpillars live primarily on grasses (Poaceae). Besides, occasionally herbaceous plants and lichens and mosses are eaten.

Habitat:
Coscinia bifasciata inhabits grassy habitats from the coast to the highlands. I met a greater density of caterpillars in Sardinia only in the higher elevations of Gennargentu. Here often several caterpillars were observed per square meter (usually under rocks during the day), along with those of Ocnogyna corsica. But this may be subject to greater fluctuations between the years.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters. In the high altitudes above 1000m above sea level probably most often only a single generation occurs from June to August. At lower altitudes, however, there are regularly two generations. The caterpillars spend the day like under stones or at the base of grass tussocks and are in later instars more nocturnal.

Endangerment factors:
Coscinia bifasciata is not endangered.

Remarks:
Coscinia bifasciata is endemic to Corsica and Sardinia, and especially at higher altitudes quite common and widespread. The taxon is closely related to Coscinia cribraria, which is missing on the two islands.