Malacosoma franconica ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives polyphagous on herbs like Sanguisorba minor, Rumex or Euphorbia.

Habitat:
Malacosoma franconica inhabits sandy grasslands, dry slopes and nutrient-poor pastures (often on acidic substrates). In Northern Greece I found the larvae in May 2011 together with those of Lasiocampa trifolii and Spiris striata in rough pastures (Olymp-west side and northern Pindos).

Life cycle:
The eggs overwinter in typical clutches on stalks, stems or twigs. The caterpillars live from April to late May/early June, similar to those of Malacosoma castrensis and M. alpicola initially in large groups close to the ground on flat webbings. They disperse and are found more individually in penultimate or final instar. The moths fly from June to July.

Endangerment: threatened with extinction

Endangerment factors:
Malacosoma franconica still occurs north of the Alps only at a few places (especially sandy grasslands in e.g. northeastern Germany, as well as in northern Poland - often former military training areas). The other habitats (e.g. Frankfurt/Main) have been lost long ago by intensification/agriculture. In southern Europe Malacosoma franconica is even only very scattered, but is threatened less although the site losses also have already greatly increased there.

Remarks:
Malacosoma franconica occurs from France (very local) across central and Southeastern Europe to Western Asia (Turkey, Caucasus region). Today, its is more common especially in the Balkan Peninsula.