Rhagades amasina (Herrich-Schäffer, [1852])

Host plants:
In Samos Island the larvae feed on Pyrus spinosa and prefer small bushes in hot environment, but with grassy undergrowth. In Asia Minor also other members of the rose family are used, so Prunus sp. and Crataegus.

Habitat:
Rhagades amasina inhabits garrigue, open maquis, forest edges, embankments, road sides and other places with the host plants.

Life cycle:
The young larva hibernates in a weak cocoon (observation in breeding 2017, eggs from Samos). The moths partly fly already in mid-May (Samos Island, 2017), but in higher altitudes more in June/early July. I think that it is not very probable that the small larva could develop so fast after the first hibernation that moths already fly in May, a second larval hibernation may be involved.
I observed the moths (app. 15 individuals, Samos Island, mid-May 2017, morning sun) in a small habitat (app. 100m²) flying around only a few decimeters high young shoots (stolons) of Pyrus spinosa which grew through grasses (Brachypodium). They temporarily rested on blades and twigs. I also recorded 2 copulae and several egg batches as well as a ovipositing female. In the same afternoon I recorded no more individuals (supposedly resting in the shade) there.

Remarks:
Rhagades amasina occurs in Asia Minor and is also found in the Greek Islands Samos, Kos and Rhodos.