Cyclophora albipunctata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives on Betula species (birch).

Habitat:
Cyclophora albipunctata inhabits birch-rich sites in the lowlands to about 800m above sea level, most of which are also humid. The moth occurs in marshy forests, riparian forests, swamp forests and similar locations. On the eastern Swabian Alb, it flies together with Coenonympha hero and Satyrium ilicis on birch-rich clearings in moist woods.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates. The moths fly from April to September in two generations (sometimes three). The caterpillars live in the summer and early autumn on birch trees. I found them abundant and mostly rather shady in August and September 2010 on the eastern Swabian Alb on small birch trees in the understory or in clearings.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
Cyclophora albipunctata is endangered because the birch is economically unattractive as softwood and thus often cut out intensively by the forestry. Additionally bog forests and riparian forests have shrunk considerably. Further habitat is removed by the falsely touted as environmentally friendly single tree selection without clearcuts.

Remarks:
Cyclophora albipunctata is widespread in Europe and temperate Asia. In southern Europe it is rare and local.