Rhodometra sacraria (Linnaeus, 1767)


Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (Croatia, Biokovo, mid-October 2015) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (Croatia, Biokovo, mid-October 2015) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (Croatia, Biokovo, mid-October 2015) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. February 2011, Fuerteventura) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Adult (e.l. February 2011, Fuerteventura) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (February 2011, Fuerteventura) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (February 2011, Fuerteventura) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Larva (February 2011, Fuerteventura) [M] Rhodometra sacraria: Pupa (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Pupa (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Pupa (e.l. rearing, Cyprus, Paphos, larva in late February 2018 on Rumex vesicaria) [S] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (S-Cyprus, Akrotiri, early November 2016, on Polygonum equisetiforme) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N] Rhodometra sacraria: Larval habitat (Cyprus, Paphos, late February 2018, on Rumex vesicaria) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar is polyphagous and is said to prefer Polygonum aviculare. I found it in Fuerteventura on Sonchus (Asteraceae) and on Rumex vesicaria and Polygonum equisetiforme in Cyprus.

Habitat:
Rhodometra sacraria inhabits dry warm, herb-rich habitats of all kinds.

Life cycle:
In Europe, the moth flies from spring to autumn, further south, however, year-round. I found the caterpillar in late February 2011 in Fuerteventura in a herb-rich dry creek bed with adjacent disused terraces.

Remarks:
Rhodometra sacraria is widespread throughout Africa and large parts of the warmer Asia. In Europe it is likely to be native to the southern foothills of the Alps. Further north rarely migrant moths are observed. Rhodometra sacraria occurs also in the Canary Islands and Madeira.