Larentia clavaria (Haworth, [1809])

Host plants:
The caterpillar feeds on mallows (Malvaceae).

Habitat:
Larentia clavaria inhabits extensively managed meadows, Malva-rich roadsides, extensive arable margins and other locations. I found the caterpillar in Provence at field margins in May 2004 and in Samos on roadsides in early May 2009 .

Life cycle:
The egg overwinters. The larva can be found from April to June.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
in the few Central European locations, Larentia clavaria is endangered through the immense consumption of country by the people (overbuilding, agricultural intensification) and by excessive mowing of unused land. In the Mediterranean, Larentia clavaria is still quite widespread, however, despite the repressive processes.

Remarks:
Larentia clavaria is widespread in Europe and Southern Scandinavia quite far, but more common only in the south. It also occurs in parts of temperate Asia.