Charissa obscurata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)


Charissa obscurata: Adult (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, August 2010) [N] Charissa obscurata: Adult (e.l. Swabian Alb, Southern Germany 2012) [S] Charissa obscurata: Adult (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, August 2010) [N] Charissa obscurata: Adult (eastern Swabian Alb) [M] Charissa obscurata: Half-grown larva (Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, April 2012) [M] Charissa obscurata: Larva (Swabian Alb, Southern Germany 2012) [S] Charissa obscurata: Larva (Swabian Alb, Southern Germany 2012) [S] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb) [N] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb) [N] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb) [N] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb) [N] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, early May 2010) [M] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, early May 2010) [M] Charissa obscurata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, early May 2010) [M] Charissa obscurata: Pupa [S] Charissa obscurata: Larval habitat with quite high density on the eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany (small quarry, April 2010) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives polyphagous on herbs like Saxifraga, Hippocrepis, Sanguisorba, Teucrium and others.

Habitat:
Charissa obscurata colonizes rupicolous calcareous grassland, rocky slopes and quarries. It is not so much dependent on rocks as Charissa pullata and therefore more common.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and is mature in late April or early May. The mature larvae undergo a rest period of several weeks according own observations, when no food is taken. The light pupation webbing is created only towards late June or early July. The moths fly from July to September with maximum in August.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Charissa obscurata is in decline due to the decrease of nutrient-poor habitats by intensificatioen, eutrophication and succession, but overall still the most widespread stone tensioner.

Remarks:
Charissa obscurata is widespread in Europe and is also found in Turkey.



Charissa glaucinaria | Charissa intermedia | Charissa pullata | Charissa staudingeri | Charissa subtaurica | Charissa variegata