Lateroligia ophiogramma (Esper, 1794)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives primarily in Phalaris arundinacea, according to literature also on Phragmites communis (reed) and Glyceria maxima.

Habitat:
Lateroligia ophiogramma inhabits wet, bright places in riparian forests, ditches, wetlands, reedbeds, scrub edges, stream banks and other places with the widespread Phalaris arundinacea. Mostly Apamea unanimis occurs syntopically.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters. I observed them very numerous in late April and early May 2011 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, near Dischingen on the eastern Swabian Alb and on the southwestern Swabian Alb near Veringendorf. The caterpillars live within the basal shoot parts. They betray themselves by whitish to yellowish discolored heart leaves (inner leaves) of the blades. If the feeding scars are very noticeable, the caterpillar has often already left the stalk again, so you have to pay attention to early feeding scars.

Pupation takes place on the ground in moss. The moths fly mainly from June to August.

Endangerment factors:
Lateroligia ophiogramma is quite flexible and not at risk.

Remarks:
Lateroligia ophiogramma occurs from Northern Spain through much of Central Europe and temperate Asia to Japan. It is largely absent in the Mediterranean and in Northern Scandinavia. It has been introduced in North America.