Chelis simplonica (Boisduval, 1840)

Host plants:
The species is polyphagous, but the caterpillars are often found at Galium anisophyllon.

Habitat:
Chelis simplonica inhabits low growing mountain meadows and pastures above about 1900m in the southern part of the Swiss Alps (Grisons and Valais). I found the caterpillars very numerous, for example in the Valais (T�schalpe) in the south-facing, very dry and meagre pastures with Pyrgus carlinae between 2200 and 2600m above sea level.

Life cycle:
The caterpillars overwinter twice and are thus mature in June even in altitudes of about 2400m above sea level. The moths fly mainly in July.

Endangerment factors:
Chelis simplonica is endangered locally by tourist development activities, but also partly by senseless irrigation of dry pastures in e.g. 2300m above sea level, as in recent years on the T�schalpe in Valais. Something like this should never more be approved!

Remarks:
Chelis simplonica mainly occurs in the Swiss Alps (Valais, Engadine), but also in the bordering Alpine regions of France and Italy. A recently found population in the NW-Spanish Cantabrian Mountains is actually considered conspecific.