Pseudopanthera macularia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives on Lamiaceae species. In dry habitats the most important host plants are likely Salvia pratensis and Ajuga geneviensis. In wet forest fringes, I observed oviposition on Mentha longifolia in June 2011.

Habitat:
Pseudopanthera macularia inhabits grove rich grasslands, forb communities, forest edges, stream valleys and similar light, bushy and extensively managed areas.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates and the moths appear from late April to early or mid-July in single generation. The caterpillars live quite cryptically and are likely to be observed between June and early September.

Endangerment factors:
Pseudopanthera macularia is in decline especially through dark forest management, in tense agriculture and loss of extensively managed or fallow grasslands. In some regions (Upper Swabia) it has already become rare.

Remarks:
Pseudopanthera macularia is distributed from Western Europe to Central Asia.