Pericallia matronula (Linnaeus, 1758)


Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [M] Pericallia matronula: Male [S] Pericallia matronula: Female [S] Pericallia matronula: Female in resting posture [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the first instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the end of the first instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the end of the first instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the second instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the second instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Half-grown larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Half-grown larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Half-grown larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Half-grown larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Half-grown larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the penultimate instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in the penultimate instar (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva (Switzerland, Bern, 2016) [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva [S] Pericallia matronula: Larva in last instar [S] Pericallia matronula: Habitat (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [N] Pericallia matronula: Habitat (Switzerland, district of Bern, early July 2019) [N]

Host plants:
The species is polyphagous, but the caterpillar preferably feeds on low shrubs such as Lonicera, Viburnum, Rubus and Corylus.

Habitat:
Pericallia matronula can be described as montane-continental, but warmth loving. Typical localities are wood rich, rocky slopes, canyons or bright, bush rich forests on slopes around streams or lakes. Although more common in the mountainous regions (e.g. in Tyrol), Pericallia matronula does not rise too high due to its claim for warmth.

Life cycle:
The development is said to last two years in the field, which might well be true. So the caterpillar overwinters initially grown up about a third and again fully-grown. The moths fly from June to July.

Endangerment factors:
In Germany (and most of central Europe), Pericallia matronula is highly threatened with extinction due to housing sprawl, reduction of the habitats (too dense afforestation, etc.) and possibly also climate changes (mild winters) and artificial light.

Remarks:
Pericallia matronula is found more numerous only in the eastern part of the Alps and in the central and southern part of eastern Europe.
The total distribution extends from eastern France across central and eastern Europe to east Asia. Pericallia matronula misses in the Mediterranean region.