Raphia hybris (Hübner, [1813])

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Pupulus nigra, probably also on hybrid poplars and supposedly also aspen.

Habitat:
Raphia hybris inhabits poplar plantations of all kinds up to medium-high altitudes, but is especially typical for natural poplar stands along rivers and in other wetlands, but also on dry slopes with open soil and poplar succession.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates. The moths already start in the lowlands in late March (otherwise in April or May) and occur in several generations until late summer (but often sparsely then). I alredy found a larva in the penultimate instar in late April on the southern slopes of Sierra de Gredos (Candeleda, Spain). It stayed on the lower side of a poplar leaf in only about 3 m height on a younger poplar tree of about 7 m height. Presumably most larvae should develop in larger heights as they are seldom recorded. Pupation occurred between spun poplar leaves in rearing.

Remarks:
Raphia hybris occurs in SW-Europe (Iberian Peninsula and S-France).