Catocala nymphaea (Esper, 1787)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Quercus species, particularly Quercus ilex and Q. coccifera.

Habitat:
Catocala nymphaea inhabits evergreen forests and maquis with Quercus in the Mediterranean.

Life cycle:
The eggs overwinter. I tapped larvae (still small) in late May in the Provence from holm oak. The moths fly from July to September. In July 2012, I flushed many adults even during the day from holm oak and rocks in the southern Cevennes (France).

Remarks:
Catocala nymphaea occurs in the Mediterranean region and goes to the north as far as to the southern edge of the Alps (South Tyrol, Lake Garda). The moth reaches Central Europe only exceptionally as a rare vagrant.