Catephia alchymista ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)


Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. east Spain, Teruel, larva in late August 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. east Spain, Teruel, larva in late August 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. Teruel, larva in August 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. Teruel, larva in August 2013) Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. Teruel, larva in August 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Adult (e.l. Teruel, larva in August 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Half-grown larva (eastern Spain, Teruel, Sierra de Albarracin, late August 2013) [M] Catephia alchymista: Half-grown larva (eastern Spain, Teruel, Sierra de Albarracin, late August 2013) [M] Catephia alchymista: Half-grown larva (eastern Spain, Teruel, Sierra de Albarracin, late August 2013) [M] Catephia alchymista: Half-grown larva (eastern Spain, Teruel, Sierra de Albarracin, late August 2013) [M] Catephia alchymista: Half-grown larva (eastern Spain, Teruel, Sierra de Albarracin, late August 2013) Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larva (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Cocoon (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Pupa (e.l. Teruel 2013) [S] Catephia alchymista: Pupa (e.l. Teruel 2013/2014) [S] Catephia alchymista: Larval habitat near Teruel in eastern Spain. A larva has been recorded on the bush in the foreground. [N] Catephia alchymista: Larval habitat near Teruel in eastern Spain. A larva has been recorded on the bush in the foreground. [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on oak (Quercus), especially young coppice shoots.

Habitat:
Catephia alchymista inhabits warm margins of oak woodland and in the Mediterranean generally oak-rich sites, e.g. in the Maquis.

Life cycle:
Catephia alchymista is on the wing in one or two generations between late April and August (according to site). The pupa hibernates. The larvae are found in summer and early autumn. I recorded them in east Spain (Sierra de Albarracin) in late August 2013 at coppice shoots.

Endangerment factors:
Catephia alchymista is endangered north of the Alps due to loss of warm oak-rich woodland in low altitudes. On the other hand Catephia alchymista may benefit from global warming there. In Southern Europe currently no substantial threat is obvious.

Remarks:
Catephia alchymista occurs in North Africa, Southern and Central Europe (to S-England and the Baltic Sea) and parts of W-Asia.


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