Melanchra pisi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpillars live polyphagous in the herb layer.

Habitat:
Melanchra pisi inhabits open land, forest clearings and similar habitats. In the mountains, the moth rises to over 2000m above sea level. Melanchra pisi is one of the most widespread species. But it is usually rare in dry habitats. On the Swabian Alb it prefers apparently humid habitats.

Life cycle:
The adults fly in a single generation (most often) or in two generations (partially in lowlands and the south). The pupa overwinters. The caterpillar is found most frequently in August and September, but also in July.

Remarks:
Melanchra pisi colonized the whole of Europe to beyond the Arctic Circle and extends to East Asia.