Jordanita vartianae (Malicky, 1961)

Host plants:
The species lives on Centaurea castellanoides. Locally also other Centaurea species may be involved, but so far all larvae have been recorded on C. castellanoides.

Habitat:
I recorded the larvae on an garrigue-like aisle through pine woodland in the spanish Sierra de Huetor (NE of Granada). Near Santiago de la Espada larvae settled in grazed garrigues, rocky slopes and a pasture near a river, always with scrub portion.

Life cycle:
I recorded the still half-grown larvae singly in late March and early April. They show the same feeding pattern as related species. The moths occur between May and early July and deposit their eggs singly or in small groups on the host plants. The larvae go into an aestivation in mid- and late summer. They feed again in autumn before hibernation which is done in various instars, presumably sometimes also twice. Pupation occurs in the soil.

Remarks:
Jordanita vartianae is endemic to eastern Spain, from Andalucia (e.g. Granada) to S-Catalonia.
The specimens (Srra. Huetor, Santiago de la Espada 2024) have been genitalized by Mr. Tarmann (Innsbruck).