Idaea rufaria (Hübner, [1799])

Host plants:
Probably the caterpillar is polyphagous on herbs. I bred them on Lotus corniculatus.

Habitat:
Idaea rufaria inhabits calcareous grassland, particularly warm and less grazed ones, partly also mowed grasslands and similar biotopes.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and is mature in May or early June. The moths fly from late June to mid-August and are active during the day in the grasslands.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Idaea rufaria is threatened by the loss of grasslands (overbuilding with houses, streets and industry, expansion of agriculture and succession).

Remarks:
Idaea rufaria occurs from north Africa across Southern and Central Europe to Central Asia.