Xestia agathina (Duponchel, 1827)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Calluna vulgaris, more rarely and regionally (e.g. SW-Europe) also on related Erica species.

Habitat:
Xestia agathina inhabits warm and most often quite dry sites in the lowlands and medium high moutains (up to about 800-900m) like Atlantic heathland, sandy grasslands with dwarf shrubs, embankments, rocky places in open woodland, open dry woodlands and similar places. The larvae develop usually on older bushes in semi-shadow under loose trees in fringes or transition zones between open woodland and open countryside respectively in the understore of open woodland. Thus Xestia agathina is vulnerable if woodlands get too dense and dark woodland respectively and depends on the availability of plenty open spots like aisles or fringes. Xestia agathina obviously misses in true bogs even if Calluna is available.

Life cycle:
The moths occur in early autumn from mid- or late August to October. The larvae hibernate small and are active again from late February or March. Then they are easily beaten from Calluna. But already the half-grown larvae feed mainly at night and retreat deeply into the bushes or when fully-grown also in the litter during daytime. The larvae occur in a green and a brown form. Young larvae are more often green and mature ones usually brown. The larva is mature between late April and late May. The prepupa rests for a quite long period in the cocoon which is constructed in rearing vertically in the upper soil, supposedly often directly under a Calluna shrub, not within sand.

Endangerment factors:
Xestia agathina is often very local and occurs in small sites. These sites are especially endangered by darkening because of total overgrowth and eutrophication.

Remarks:
Xestia agathina shows an expansive Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution pattern. It occurs from SW-Europe (Iberian peninsula, France, Italy) across parts of Central and NW-Europe (northwards to Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Poland and Estonia). In Germany, it occurs especially in the Rhine Valley and adjacent landscapes like lower and western parts of the Black Forest or the lower Mail Valley and in parts of N- and E-Germany (e.g. Lower Saxony, S-Brandenburg, N-Saxony).