Aporophyla lutulenta (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives very polyphagous on herbs. I found them on Ranunculus bulbosus (Northern Greece) and Sanguisorba officinalis (Böblingen, Southern Germany).

Habitat:
Aporophyla lutulenta inhabits warm, dry to moderately moist and only extensively managed open land habitats.

Life cycle:
The young caterpillar overwinters and is mature mainly in April and May (early June). The prepupa rests for a long period and the moths fly in the autumn (September/October).

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Presumably, this species is currently spreading as a result of global warming. Nevertheless, it is at risk north of the Alps, because it requires extensive habitats and these represent only a trace element in todays over-fertilized and over-exploited landscape.

Remarks:
Aporophyla lutulenta is distributed locally in Southern and Central Europe. In Central Europe it is only found in warm, low-lying areas. Here it is, however, currently spreading a bit.