Orthosia gracilis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Orthosia gracilis: Adult (e.l. Schwäbisch Hall 2010) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Adult (e.l. Schwäbisch Hall 2010) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Adult (e.l. Schwäbisch Hall 2010) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Young larva (Schwäbisch Hall, May 2010) [N] Orthosia gracilis: Half-grown larva [S] Orthosia gracilis: Half-grown larva at Trifolium [M] Orthosia gracilis: Half-grown larva [M] Orthosia gracilis: Larva [S] Orthosia gracilis: Larva [M] Orthosia gracilis: Larva (e.l. Ticino, Switzerland) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Larva (e.l. Ticino, Switzerland) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Larva (e.l. Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Larva (e.l. Schwäbisch Hall ex May 2010) [S] Orthosia gracilis: Larval habitat on a ditch with Filipendula ulmaria near a forest edge (northern Baden-Württemberg, May 2010) [N]

Host plants:
The species is polyphagous on deciduous woods and many kinds of plants of the herb layer. Of all Orthosia she is most commonly found near the ground on herbs. I found them on Filipendula, Epilobium, Medicago and once in the Valais in masses on flowers of Trifolium pratense.

Habitat:
Orthosia gracilis inhabits almost all not too intensively managed habitats (no manure meadows). I found the caterpillars, that live except in last instar in webbed shelters of leaves or between flowers, often along streams on Filipendula ulmaria (near Memmingen) or in the vicinity of a forest on Trifolium.

Life cycle:
The moths overwinter far developed in the chrysalis and emerge from March to May. The caterpillars are found mostly between May and late June or early July.

Endangerment factors:
Orthosia gracilis is not endangered.

Remarks:
Orthosia gracilis is widespread in Europe (except in the extreme north and south) and temperate Asia.



Orthosia cerasi | Orthosia cruda | Orthosia cypriaca | Orthosia dalmatica | Orthosia gothica | Orthosia incerta | Orthosia miniosa | Orthosia munda | Orthosia opima | Orthosia populeti | Orthosia rorida 
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