Albocosta musiva (Hübner, 1803)


Albocosta musiva: Adult (e.l. Valais) [S] Albocosta musiva: Half-grown larva (Valais) [M] Albocosta musiva: Larva in last instar (e.l. Valais) [S] Albocosta musiva: Habitat: alpine nutrient-poor and more dry meadow in 2200m above sea level in the Valais  [N]

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous. I found a caterpillar in Valais under a horseshoe vetch cushion in about 2000m above sealine.

Habitat:
Albocosta musiva inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands and rocky slopes in montane to subalpine elevations.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters. The moths fly in the summer (July/August, especially in high altitudes even in September).

Endangerment: threatened with extinction

Endangerment factors:
In Baden-Württemberg this beautiful species is already extinct. In Germany there are only remnants in Bavaria (Alps). In the Southern Alps the moth, however, is still quite widespread. Generally Albocosta musiva suffers from the destruction of nutrient-poor grasslands (ski areas, overgrazing, bush encroachment).

Remarks:
The total distribution extends across the mountains of south and Central Europe (formerly northward to the Swabian Alb) and eastward to Western China.


German version / deutsche Version