Moma alpium (Osbeck, 1778)


Moma alpium: Adult (e.l. Memmingen, Southern Germany) [S] Moma alpium: Already somewhat worn adult (e.l. Upper Rhine 2011) [S] Moma alpium: Young larva (eastern Swabian Alb) [M] Moma alpium: Half-grown larva [M] Moma alpium: Larva (Memmingen, Southern Germany) [M] Moma alpium: Larva [S] Moma alpium: Larva (Memmingen, Southern Germany) [M] Moma alpium: Larva (e.l. eastern Swabian Alb) [S]

Host plants:
The larvae live on oak species such as Quercus robur. They are rarely also reported from Fagus sylvatica and other tree species.

Habitat:
Moma alpium inhabits warm oak forests, forest mantle structures, parks and grasslands with single oak trees.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates. The adults occur from mid-May to mid-July (rarely later) and oviposit often in small groups at oak. I found the caterpillars especially in July/early August on sunny oaks resting on the underside of leaves.

Endangerment factors:
Moma alpium has already been pushed back through dark forest management with spruce, beech and maple species. But it is overall still not seriously threatened.

Remarks:
Moma alpium is widespread in Europe (excluding the far north) and temperate Asia to Japan.


German version / deutsche Version