Sideridis kitti (Schawerda, 1914)

Host plants:
The larvae feed especially on Astragalus glycyphyllos and A. cicer, but locally probably also other Astragalus species and possibly also other Fabaceae (Vicia?).

Habitat:
Sideridis kitti inhabits most often dry and hot slopes which are interspersed with nutrient-poor grasslands and scrub. Sideridis kitti is regularly found e.g. in Central and South Alpine dry valleys up to app. 1600m.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates and moths occur in one generation between May and July. The larvae can be found mainly from mid-June to early August. They can be beaten from the plants especially when young.

Endangerment factors:
Sideridis kitti is endangered due to reforestation of formerly more open dry slopes. It can be protected by large-scale, but not too intense grazing that must leave open a good part of the larval habitat during larval time. Thus too intense grazing can be an endangerment factor, too, especially in smaller habitats.

Remarks:
Sideridis kitti occurs locally in Central, Eastern and parts of South and Southeastern Europe, but is probably also present in parts of W-Asia.