Selidosema taeniolaria (Hübner, [1813])


Selidosema taeniolaria: Männche (e.l. Provence, France 2011) [S] Selidosema taeniolaria: Male (e.l. Provence, France 2011) [S] Selidosema taeniolaria: Larva (Provence, France, April 2011) [S] Selidosema taeniolaria: Larva (Provence, France, April 2011) [S] Selidosema taeniolaria: Habitat in the Provence, France [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillars are polyphagous, according to literature. They seem to have a strong preference for Fabaceae according to own observations. I found many larvae in the Provence on Genista scoparius (April 2011).

Habitat:
Selidosema taeniolaria inhabits broom slopes, grasslands and heaths with broom stands, clearings in the dry forest, maquis and other Mediterranean habitats. I found the caterpillar on broom bushes on the edge of a grassland with Pyrgus cirsii and Pyrgus onopordi at Lac de Ste. Croix (Verdon area).

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and is mature in late April or in May. It feeds also open during the day on the broom bushes. The moths fly not until late July/early August to late September.

Remarks:
Selidosema taeniolaria occurs in Southern Europe (e.g. southern half of France) and largely absent further north (missing completely north of the Alps).



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