Odezia atrata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives on Apiacae like Chaerophyllum or Anthriscus.

Habitat:
Odezia atrata colonizes shrubbery rich, extensive meadows and edges, which are usually at least somewhat fresh. It is usually absent from too dry habitats. Typical habitats are clearings in riparian forests, extensively managed meadows with hedges and Colchicum as humidity indicator and others. In the Alps, Odezia atrata occurs often on more nutritious, but extensive pastures and mats up to over 2000m asl.

Life cycle:
The moths fly in June and July. They are conspicuous at daytime due to their low, fluttering flight. They often appear very abundant in suitable habitats such as extensive, slightly moist, montane meadows . The egg hibernates and the caterpillar lives from March to early May (in high elevations still in late June) hedge edges or in the meadows.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Odezia atrata needs at flight time uncut edges and meadows, which have become rare outside of the Alps and other mountain ranges.

Remarks:
The spread ranges from Spain to Mongolia. In warm regions, Odezia atrata occurs in the mountains.