Epatolmis luctifera ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Host plants:
Polyphagous, especially low growing herbs such as Galium.

Habitat:
Epatolmis luctifera inhabits nutrient-poor, but partially higher growing grasslands, only once cut hay meadows, dry slopes and similar hot, dry and only extensively used open land.

Life cycle:
The moths fly in May and June. The caterpillars pupate in August and September. The caterpillars hide during the day under rocks or vegetation. I found some caterpillars under flat lying horseshoe vetch cushions on the wayside (Valais). The caterpillars are very mobile and can run away quickly. They appear in the evening and are often crushed on roads as observed at the access road to a pasture.

Endangerment: threatened with extinction

Endangerment factors:
In Central Europe Epatolmis luctifera is threatened with extinction by dramatic loss of habitat.

Remarks:
Epatolmis luctifera is still slightly more common in the Southern Alps and in some inner-alpine dry valleys (Valais).

The total distribution ranges from the eastern Pyrenees across central and parts of Southern Europe and temperate Asia to Japan.