Endromis versicolora (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
Mostly, the caterpillars live on Betula species, sometimes also on Alnus and probably Corylus and Carpinus.

Habitat:
Endromis versicolora inhabits light deciduous forests, moorland edge forests, swamp forests, mountain forests etc. with relatively large proportions of the larval host plant.

Life cycle:
The moths fly from March to early May (rarely already in late February). The caterpillars can be found from May to June, at higher altitudes even in early July. The pupa overwinters. The eggs are laid in rows on thin branches, where the young caterpillars live in groups. Mature larvae dissipate in most cases.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
Endromis versicolora is highly vulnerable due to the decline of light, birch-rich woodland in favour of coniferous monocultures. The best habitats are obviously still bright, humid coppice woodlands as well as bog edge woods. Even some birch-rich mountain forests (500 to 1500m asl), for example in Ticino and Valais (both Switzerland) are occupied still pretty well. Endromis versicolora is, however, easily overlooked due to its low population density.

Remarks:
Endromis versicolora is widespread in Europe, but mostly confined to strictly limited localities. In southern Europe it is only occasionally found in the mountains and is missing in the southern Mediterranean (as well as in northernmost Scandinavia). The total distribution extends further to East Asia.