Zygaena hilaris Ochsenheimer, 1808

Host plants:
Ononis sp., especially Ononis repens.

Habitat:
Zygaena hilaris occurs in edges of calcareous grasslands, steppe-like slopes, dry shrub and clearings in dry forests. In the Italian Susa valley I found caterpillars in 1000m asl in a complex with Bromus erectus grasslands and shrub at the edge of dry stone walls.

Life cycle:
I found hibernated caterpillars in April and May (Susa Valley). They hide during the day sometimes in the litter around the plants. The moths fly from June (Andalucia, Provence) to early August (Susa). They usually occur in rather low density.

Endangerment: Oc

Remarks:
Zygaena hilaris has a Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution and occurs from the Iberian Peninsula across the south of France to Northwest Italy. The northernmost occurrences are located east of the Southern Alps in the Italian Valle di Susa, to the west in the area of Lyon (formerly even around Geneva).