Ecliptopera silaceata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)


Ecliptopera silaceata: Adult (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, e.l. 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Adult, wings artificially opened (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, e.l. 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Adult (e.l. eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany 2011) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Young larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [M] Ecliptopera silaceata: Half-grown larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2011) [M] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2011) [M] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2011) [M] Ecliptopera silaceata: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010) [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Pupa [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Pupa [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Pupa [S] Ecliptopera silaceata: Habitat on the eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, September 2010. [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives mostly on Impatiens noli-tangere (native Jewelweed). According to literature, it is also found on Onagraceae as Circaea (witchweed) and Epilobium (fireweed). I found such a larva on Epilobium on the Swabian Alb in September 2011.

Habitat:
Ecliptopera silaceata inhabits herbal edges in forests such as roadsides, ditches and paths.

Life cycle:
The moths fly depending on local climate and altitude in one or two generations from late April to early September, often with a maximum in June and July. The caterpillars are found from June to October. In the Swabian Alb, I found it in 2010 in September and early October.

Remarks:
Ecliptopera silaceata is widespread Holarctic: Europe, temperate Asia, North America.



Ecliptopera capitata