Malacosoma franconica ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)


Malacosoma franconica: Male (e.l. Northern Greece, 2011) [S] Malacosoma franconica: Male (drying its wings after emergence) [S] Malacosoma franconica: Female [S] Malacosoma franconica: Female [S] Malacosoma franconica: Mating [S] Malacosoma franconica: Oviposition [S] Malacosoma franconica: Ovae: lightbrown cement [S] Malacosoma franconica: Nest of larvae (Pindos, N-Greece, 1200m above sea level, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Nest of larvae (Pindos, 1200m above sea level, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Nest of larvae (Pindos near Grevena, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Larva ventral (Pindos, May 2011) [M] Malacosoma franconica: Larva: head dark (Pindos, May 2011) [N] Malacosoma franconica: Cocoon [S] Malacosoma franconica: Larval habitat in the Pindos range near Grevena (May 2011). Here is also found Simyra dentinosa. [N] Malacosoma franconica: Habitat in the Pindos range in about 1200m above sea level [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives polyphagous on herbs like Sanguisorba minor, Rumex or Euphorbia.

Habitat:
Malacosoma franconica inhabits sandy grasslands, dry slopes and nutrient-poor pastures (often on acidic substrates). In Northern Greece I found the larvae in May 2011 together with those of Lasiocampa trifolii and Spiris striata in rough pastures (Olymp-west side and northern Pindos).

Life cycle:
The eggs overwinter in typical clutches on stalks, stems or twigs. The caterpillars live from April to late May/early June, similar to those of Malacosoma castrensis and M. alpicola initially in large groups close to the ground on flat webbings. They disperse and are found more individually in penultimate or final instar. The moths fly from June to July.

Endangerment: threatened with extinction

Endangerment factors:
Malacosoma franconica still occurs north of the Alps only at a few places (especially sandy grasslands in e.g. northeastern Germany, as well as in northern Poland - often former military training areas). The other habitats (e.g. Frankfurt/Main) have been lost long ago by intensification/agriculture. In southern Europe Malacosoma franconica is even only very scattered, but is threatened less although the site losses also have already greatly increased there.

Remarks:
Malacosoma franconica occurs from France (very local) across central and Southeastern Europe to Western Asia (Turkey, Caucasus region). Today, its is more common especially in the Balkan Peninsula.



Malacosoma alpicola | Malacosoma castrensis | Malacosoma neustria