Acronicta alni (Linnaeus, 1767)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Betulaceae (Betula, Alnus and Corylus) and more rarely also other deciduous woods.

Habitat:
Acronicta alni inhabits riparian forests, swamp forests and other forests with the larval host plants as well as parks and gardens.

Life cycle:
The moths fly in one to two generations per year. The pupa overwinters. I found larvae mostly in July and August on Alnus incana, A. glutinosa and Corylus avellana along rivers coming from the Alps (Iller, SW-Bavaria). The caterpillars are resting on the upper leaf surface. In young stages they imitate a bird blob.

Endangerment factors:
Acronicta alni is widespread. Despite some significant declines (destruction of the wetlands, dark forest management under eradication of economically uninteresting softwoods) the moth is still not seriously threatened.

Remarks:
The moth occurs from Northern Spain to Japan.