Dysauxes punctata (Fabricius, 1781)

Host plants:
The caterpillars feed on old, dead parts of plants, mosses, lichens, algae and soft and fresh plants.

Habitat:
Dysauxes punctata inhabits rocky slopes, steppe-like grasslands and sparse dry forest clearings.

Life cycle:
I found caterpillars that pupated immediately afterwards in the Valle di Susa in a rocky Stipa-slope in 500m in April. Adults flew there numerously in May in the sun during the day. In South Tyrol, I met larvae in April (2011) and adults often in July 2007 in rocky steppe-like grasslands and sparse pine forests. In Valais, I found adults in June 2012 near Stalden on dry slopes.

Endangerment factors:
Dysauxes punctata is missing north of the Alps. In the inner-alpine dry valleys
(Valais, Vinschgau) and probably also further to the south, Dysauxes punctata is endangered due to housing development, ever further extension of vineyards into the last natural zones, afforestation attempts and partly bush encroachment (e.g. Juniperus in Valais).

Remarks:
Dysauxes punctata occurs from North Africa across Southern Europe far into Asia. The northernmost populations in Central Europe are located in the inner-alpine dry valleys (Valais, Vinschgau, etc.).