Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Retzius, 1783)


Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Adult (e.l. N-Tyrol, Lech valley near Forchach, larva in September 2013). The moths are quite variable. There are also darker specimens with brown, Perizoma-like median field which masks the central spots. [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: dult (e.l. N-Tyrol, Lech valley near Forchach, larva in September 2013). The moths are quite variable. There are also darker specimens with brown, Perizoma-like median field which masks the central spots. [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (Lech valley near Forchach, N-Tyrol, September 2013) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (Lech valley near Forchach, N-Tyrol, September 2013) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (Lech valley near Forchach, N-Tyrol, September 2013) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, S-Germany, September 2010) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, S-Germany, September 2010) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, S-Germany, September 2010) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, S-Germany, September 2010) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larva (Lech valley near Forchach, N-Tyrol, September 2013) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Pupa (e.l. Lech valley, N-Tyrol, Larva in September 2013) [S] Pterapherapteryx sexalata: Larval habitat (humid clearcut in the eastern Swabian Alb in September 2010) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on willows (Salix). I recorded them on Salix caprea and S. cinerea in the eastern Swabian Alb and on Salix eleagnos at the river Lech in northern Tyrol (Forchach).

Habitat:
Pterapherapteryx sexalata inhabits most often humid, willow-rich habitats like clearcuts, wetlands, lakes or river banks.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates and the moths occur most probably in only one, but very prolonged generation between late April and late August or early September (if really only one generation?). Thus larvae should live between June and October, but I recorded them so far only in September.

Remarks:
Pterapherapteryx sexalata occurs from west Europe to Sibiria, but misses largely in the Mediterranean.