Epilecta linogrisea (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Host plants:
The larva is polyphagous on herbs, grasses and young trees.

Habitat:
Epilecta linogrisea inhabits sparse forests and shrubbery rich grasslands. It occurs in particular on sandy soil.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and is mature in April (maybe even May). The moths fly from mid-July to mid-September. I found a half-grown larva in low elevations of the northernmost Black Forest on Digitalis in February 2011.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Epilecta linogrisea suffered heavy losses from the destruction of the sandy grasslands (such as in the Upper Rhine region). In addition, it may be affected negatively by penetration of neophytes like Solidago in light forests, which leads to a change in the microclimate.

Remarks:
The spread ranges from Northwest Africa across Southern and Central Europe to Western Asia. In Germany Epilecta linogrisea is quite local. In Baden-Württemberg it is apparently restricted to the western part (Upper Rhine and adjacent areas).