Agrochola humilis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous. In Bulgaria and Greece I recorded them mainly on various Asteraceae in steppe grasslands, in E-Austria also on Apiaceae and Fabaceae.

Habitat:
Agrochola humilis inhabits most often steppe landscapes, i.e. dry (or seasonally dry) and warm grasslands. It is also found in open dry woodland and similar places like edges (altogether nitrogen-poor, warm sites). There is no correlation with the occurrance of groves.

Life cycle:
The moths occur in September and October. The larvae develop in late spring and early summer (late April to late June). They rest on the host plants even during daytime and trust in their camouflage.

Remarks:
Agrochola humilis occurs from E-France, Belgium and Germany (in these countries only very locally) southeastwards to Turkey and adjacent countries (e.g. Caucasus). It is quite common e.g. in parts of E-Austria, Hungary and the Balkans (e.g. Bulgaria, N-Greece).