Hadena confusa (Hufnagel, 1766)

Host plants:
The species feeds on Silene species (flowers and fruits). I found caterpillars so far mostly on Silene nutans. Christian Siegel recorded them in Lychnis flos-cuculi in Vorarlberg (Austria). According to literature, it also lives in Silene vulgaris. I could prove this in Sardinia in May 2012 and in the eastern Pyrenees in July 2013. I also found larvae in Silene ciliata there.

Habitat:
According to my observations, dry grasslands, rocky slopes and stony pastures with Silene nutans are populated. In Vorarlberg caterpillars seem to occur also along moor edges in medium-high altitudes (Christian Siegel). In Sardinia, I found larvae in a maquis area near the coast. Unlike other species of Hadena, the caterpillars are only found in small numbers. Whether Hadena confusa therefore only occurs in low density or whether the acquisition (collecting Silene blossoms) and the selection of pink species is in deficit remains to be investigated.

Life cycle:
The moths fly in a single generation from late May to early August. The caterpillars are found in the medium high mountains (Swabian Alb) in June and July, in the Alps to about 2000 m from July to early September. In the Mediterranean they are already found in May (sea level, Sardinia). But there seems to be no second generation.
The young caterpillars live in the flowers and in the developing fruit. The older larvae adhere consistently hidden on the floor and eat only at night.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Hadena confusa is in decline at least north of the Alps due to habitat loss (agricultural intensification as well as abandonment and succeeding reforestation). But Hadena confusa is still widespread in the Alps, especially in the southern part.

Remarks:
The overall distribution ranges from North Africa across Europe to Central Asia.