Apopestes spectrum (Esper, 1787)


Apopestes spectrum: Adult (e.l. N-Greece, Litochoro, larva in May 2014) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Adult (e.l. N-Greece, Litochoro, larva in May 2014) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Adult (e.l. Provence-Alpes) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Adult (e.l. Provence-Alpes) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Freshly emerged adult drying its wings (e.l. Provence-Alpes) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Larva feeds the whole shoot from the tip (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, May) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, May) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larva (Crete, May 2013) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Pupa (e.l. N-Greece, Litochoro, larva in May 2014) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Pupa (e.l. N-Greece, Litochoro, larva in May 2014) [S] Apopestes spectrum: Larval habitat in Samos (May 2009) [N] Apopestes spectrum: Larval habitat in Crete in May 2013 [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on broom species, especially Spartium junceum.

Habitat:
Apopestes spectrum inhabits the Mediterranean shrub associations with Spartium. I found many larvae in a grassland area on a rocky road side verge in Provence.

Life cycle:
The moths overwinter. Caterpillars are found from late April to June. The adults hatch from July, which then go into hibernation.

Remarks:
Apopestes spectrum is a Mediterranean species that penetrates locally to the southern edge of the Alps. It is also reported from the Swiss Valais (if still native?).


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