Cerastis rubricosa (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Cerastis rubricosa: Adult (Romania, Berca, May 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Adult (Romania, Berca, May 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Adult (Romania, Cluij, May 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Adult (Romania, Cluij, May 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (S-Germany, Kempter Wald, 20. June 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (S-Germany, Kempter Wald, 20. June 2021) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, late June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva (Algaeu Alps, Germany, Hinterstein, 1600m asl, late June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Half-grown larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (e.l. Hinterstein 2014) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021)  [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva on Vaccinium uliginosum (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (e.l. Hinterstein 2014) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (e.l. Hinterstein 2014) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (Hinterstein, Allgaeu Alps, 1300m asl, late June 2014) [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (Hinterstein, Allgaeu Alps, 1300m asl, late June 2014) [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (Montafon, 1800 m above sea level, August 2004) [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (e.l. Hinterstein 2014) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larva (Hinterstein, Allgaeu Alps, 1300m asl, late June 2014) [M] Cerastis rubricosa: Pupa (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Pupa (e.l. rearing, S-Germany, Kempter Wald, larva on 20. June 2021) [S] Cerastis rubricosa: Larval habitat (larvae in the grass and herb layer) near Hinterstein (Allgaeu Alps) in 1600 m asl in June 2014 [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larval habitat (larvae in the grass and herb layer) near Hinterstein (Allgaeu Alps) in 1600 m asl in June 2014 [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larval habitat (larvae in the grass and herb layer) near Hinterstein (Allgaeu Alps) in 1600 m asl in June 2014 [N] Cerastis rubricosa: Larval habitat in a bog with Vaccinium uliginosum (S-Germany, Kempter Wald, 20. June 2021) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae are polyphagous on grasses and especially herbs.

Habitat:
Cerastis rubricosa occurs in a broad variety of habitats such as forest fringes, roadsides and embankments, wetlands and grasslands. In the Alps, it rises to about 2000m above sea level.

Life cycle:
The adults overwinter in the pupal case and hatch in March. The flight time lasts until well into May. The caterpillar is found mostly in June and July, sometimes as early as May or - especially in the mountains - even in August. The moths prefer willows as nectar source as it is the case with the genus Orthosia.

Remarks:
Cerastis rubricosa colonizes the whole of Europe and temperate Asia.



Cerastis leucographa 
German version / deutsche Version