Aspitates ochrearia (Rossi, 1794)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives probably polyphagous in the herb layer, although Fabaceae should be preferred.

Habitat:
Aspitates ochrearia inhabits nutrient-poor, dry grasslands, steppes and Mediterranean scrub.

Life cycle:
The moths fly from April to early June and again in autumn (August to September). I found them from early to mid-May in Samos and in the Askio Mountains as well as in late September in Rhodes (all Greece). The males fly in the meadows during the day and rest at straws. Females are more intensely colored, but apparently observed more rarely.

Remarks:
Aspitates ochrearia is quite widespread in Southern Europe. Further to the north it occurs nly locally in the west (France, British Isles) and east (from SE-Poland southeastward). It is also found in N-Africa, parts of Asia (such as Turkey) and N-America.