Deileptenia ribeata (Clerck, 1759)

Host plants:
The species lives on coniferous and deciduous wood. I found the caterpillar in the Allgaeu Alps near Hinterstein on spruce and on the eastern Swabian Alb on oak and alder (Alnus glutinosa). Probably only in the breeding the larvae accept also herbs (Coronilla varia).

Habitat:
Deileptenia ribeata inhabits forests and more rarely also other woody habitats. It is not dependent on coniferous forests, but settles on the Alb also for example in medieval oak plantations. It prefers at least slightly humid environments.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and can be found from September to early June. In September/October 2010 and 2011, I found on the eastern Swabian Alb near Dischingen several young caterpillars on oaks. The moths fly from late June to late August.

Remarks:
The distribution reaches from Spain to east Asia. In the southern Mediterranean region, Deileptenia ribeata is missing, however.