Panchrysia deaurata (Esper, 1787)


Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Adult (e.l. rearing N-Italy, South Tyrol, Val Müstair, larva in May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Young larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, early May 2015) [M] Panchrysia deaurata: Young larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, early May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Half-grown larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva (South Tyrol, Val Müstair, May 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Cocoon (e.l. rearing South Tyrol 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Pupa (e.l. rearing South Tyrol 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Pupa (e.l. rearing South Tyrol 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Pupa (e.l. rearing South Tyrol 2015) [S] Panchrysia deaurata: Larva in its habitat, feeding scars (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, late May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, late May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, late May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, early May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, early May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Already suboptimal larval habitat with progressed bush encroachment (Val Müstair, South Tyrol, early May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (entrance of Val Senales in South Tyrol, early May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Larval habitat (entrance of Val Senales in South Tyrol, early May 2015) [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Habitat destroyment near Juval (South Tyrol, May 2015). Steppe grassland is here still converted into ecological worthless vine yards! [N] Panchrysia deaurata: Habitat destroyment near Juval (South Tyrol, May 2015). Steppe grassland is here still converted into ecological worthless vine yards! [N]

Host plants:
The larva feeds on Thalictrum minus, more rarely also other Thalictrum species (Ranunculaceae).

Habitat:
Panchrysia deaurata inhabits sheltered niches in rocky, bushy slopes and sunny, open woodland especially between 500 and 1800m asl.

Life cycle:
Adults occur in one or two generations between late May and early September, according to altitude. The second generation is often only weak orlacks completely. The young larva hibernates and is most often mature in May (lower elevations). It develops faster and earlier than the syntopic larva of Panchrysia v-argenteum.

Endangerment factors:
Panchrysia deaurata is endangered in lower elevations due to several factors, especially the abandonment of formerly grazed slopes, afforestations, spread of Robinia pseudacacia, expansion of fruit and vine groves or direct overbuilding.

Remarks:
Panchrysia deaurata occurs locally in mountains from Spain across S-France, the Central and Southern Alps to the Balkans and further to Asia.
Though Panchrysia deaurata has already been and is still pushed back heavily in South Tyrol (Vintschgau) by unbelievable intense fruit and vine agriculture as well as afforestation programs, it can be still recorded regularly in the few still existing habitats (e.g. Schnalstal - Val Senales, Münstertal - Val Müstair).



Panchrysia v-argenteum 
German version / deutsche Version