Laelia coenosa (Hübner, 1808)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Poaceae and some Cyperaceae, especially Phragmites and Cladium.

Habitat:
Laelia coenosa inhabits wetland habitats such as siltation areas, nutrient-rich fens or sedge areas. I found many mature caterpillars on reeds in the southern French Camargue in the end of July 2002.

Life cycle:
Hibernation takes place as a caterpillar according to literature. In southern Europe Laelia coenosa flies in two generations with moths in May/June and August/September, but north of the Alps there is just a single generation especially in July.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
Laelia coenosa is in many regions highly endangered due to habitat loss (drainage of wetlands, agriculture).

Remarks:
Laelia coenosa shows a fragmented distribution similar to Heteropterus morpheus. Laelia coenosa is found in the Netherlands and northern Germany. It is more widespread, however, in south and south-Eastern Europe (Spain, Camargue, Po Valley, Lake Neusiedl, the Danube Delta in Romania etc.).