Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda, 1761)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on grasses such as Brachypodium, Calamagrostis or Molinia.

Habitat:
Thymelicus sylvestris inhabits wetlands, fens, clearcuts, nutrient-poor grasslands and (woodland) fringes. The imago also flies in xerothermic grasslands on limestone, where it is often syntopic with the other two species of Thymelicus.

Life cycle:
The L1-larva is said to hibernate in a cocoon. I observed mature caterpillars numerously in late May and early June. Thymelicus sylvestris tends to be the earliest appearing Thymelicus and flies in Central Europe between mid/late June and early August.

Endangerment factors:
Thymelicus sylvestris is not endangered.

Remarks:
The distribution ranges from Northwest Africa across Europe (except the largest part of Scandinavia) to the Middle East.