Jordanita notata (Zeller, 1847)

Host plants:
Centaurea scabiosa and Centaurea jacea, in the south also other Centaurea and thistles.

Habitat:
Jordanita notata mostly inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands on limestone in cetntral Europe. In the south it is common on grasslands of all kinds, pastures, in garrigues and elsewhere.

Life cycle:
The caterpillars are mature after hibernation in central Europe mostly in May. They constroct a dense, soft cocoon in the moss layer or even in the soil. The adults fly in June and July. In early or mid-May, the caterpillars are found in the large mines of the food plant, but are difficult or impossible to distinguish from the somewhat more common Adscita globulariae.

In the south the larvae are often already mature in March or April and the flight time starts as early as mid-April. In the mountains it is delayed upr to July. Jordanita notata is one of the earliest foresters, together with A. mannii, A. jordani, J. budensis and J. tenuicornis. All end hibernation very early, according to region already in February or March.

The larvae are very variable, but tend to have yellow elements (but not always), especially in SW-Europe. Forester larvae on Asteraceae in southwest Europe with yellow elements and which are not J. subsolana are usually notata. In Se-Europe the larvae seem to be less yellowish. In Europe, finally also larvae of J. chloros (also in S-France) and J. graeca have yellow markings.

In central Spain (Avila) I observed that the larvae leave the host plants (here C. ornata in which they are not able to hide within mines at least at that time of the year) and hide far away form it in moss or dead grass near the ground in bad and cold weather. Searching directly around the plants did not succeed, but occasionally in a meter or so away. In following sun shine the larvae came out and searched for the host plants. In central Europe and in north Spain (Pyrenees) the larvae also tend to leave the plants when not feeding (some stay in the mines), but I found them more often in the direct vicinity of the plants in the moss. Perhaps this phenomen is depending on weather.

Endangerment factors:
In central Europe, Jordanita notata is endangered due to habitat loss (overbuilding, bush encroachment, reforestation) and agricultural mismanagement of habitats (mowing too early and often, fertilization). Favourable are young fallow areas.
In the south Jordanita notata is still common.

Remarks:
In Germany Jordanita notata is rare, so for example in the southwest at the border to Switzerland. In southern Europe however, it is more widespread and often the commonest species of the genus.
The total distribution extends from the Iberian Peninsula across southern and central Europe and Asia Minor to the Kaukasus region. It also occurs in most Mediterranean Islands.