Cucullia calendulae Treitschke, 1835

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Asteraceae, especially Calendula species.

Habitat:
Cucullia calendulae inhabits ruderal areas, dunes, maquis, fields, roadsides and similar places.

Life cycle:
The adults fly especially from autumn to spring. The caterpillars live usually in the spring in the Mediterranean region, but in the Canary Islands already since the late autumn (La Palma: December 2006, La Gomera: Christmas 2008, Fuerteventura: February 2010). The pupa aestivates to survive the lack of food in summer drought.

Remarks:
Cucullia calendulae is missing in Central Europe and is widespread in the Mediterranean. It occurs from Madeira and the Canaries across North Africa and Southern Europe to the Middle East (e.g. Iran).