Hecatera dysodea (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Lactuca serriola and other Lactuca species (e.g. L. perennis), occasionally also other related species such as Mycelis or Prenanthes.

Habitat:
Hecatera dysodea colonizes ruderal areas, field margins, road and roadsides, woodland edges and embankments. It occurs mainly in the lowlands up to about 600m above sea level.

Life cycle:
North of the Alps, the moth flies in mostly one generation in summer, particularly from mid-July to late July, rarely already earlier.In Central Europe, Hecatera dysodea has adapted to the quite late flowering of Lactuca serriola and the overwintering pupae lie until the end of May, before the imaginal development gradually begins. I found caterpillars in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany) from mid-July to late August. A very partial second generation is possible in breeding when keeping the pupae warm.

Hecatera dysodea flies in two generations (May/June and again between mid-July and September) in Southern Europe.

Endangerment factors:
Hecatera dysodea is locally in decline, because fewer and fewer ruderal places are created and all land is used more intensively. Roadsides are mowed unfortunately still too often.

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