Idaea serpentata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Host plants:
The caterpillars live polyphagous in the herb and litter layer.

Habitat:
Idaea serpentata inhabits limestone grasslands, juniper heath, extensive Salvia-Arrhenaterum meadows, dams, embankments, fens and other extensive places. In economic grassland, Idaea serpentata is today extinct because of too intense management (fertilization, frequent cutting).

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters. The moths fly from May to August in a single generation. There is a second generation only in warm lowland habitats such as the Upper Rhine. The moths fly at the sites mostly abundant in the sunshine near the ground in the grasses.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
In many places Idaea serpentata has already declined due to habitat loss. But the moth can be observed quite steadily and numerous in areas with comparatively many grasslands such as the Swabian Alb.

Remarks:
Idaea serpentata is widespread in Europe and temperate Asia to about Western China.