Phyllodesma ilicifolia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
According to literature, the larvae feed on dwarf shrubs like Vaccinium myrtillus or Vaccinium uliginosum, but also on low-growing or still young bushes of Salix, Betula and Populus. I recorded larvae in Sweden near Nora only on Populus tremula shrubs with growth heights between 30 cm and 2 m.

Habitat:
Phyllodesma ilicifolia inhabits open woodlands that are rich in dwarf shrubs and are most often quite humid, usually on acid ground. In the main distribution area most often pine, spruce and birch forests with many clearings or aisles are involved. Often there are also smaller or larger bogs interspersed with these woodlands. In the south Phyllodesma ilicifolia inhabits similar places in cold and humid woodlands, dwarf shrub heathland and bogs. Near Nora in Sweden, I recorded Phyllodesma ilicifolia in a power-cut through a pine/spruce woodland with Calluna as main plant, but many young shrubs of Salix, Betula and Populus tremula.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates in a dense cocoon that is probably constructed in the dwarf shrubs near the ground. The moths occur between April and May, sometimes still in June. The larvae are found between late May and August with peak in late June and July. I recorded young to half-grown larvae near Nora in mid-June 2020. They rested on young shrubs of Populus tremula. In subsequent rearing, they accepted only this poplar species.

Endangerment factors:
Phyllodesma ilicifolia is nearly extinct in central Europe due to intense forestry (dark forest management, destroyment of open woodlands with dwarf shrubs and bogs), but also due to infrastructure measures of all kinds. It is still found in last remnants locally e.g. in the Bavarian-Czech frontier area. These last populations may be pushed back also by global warming and subsequent warmer winters.

Remarks:
Phyllodesma ilicifolia has its main occurrence in the taiga zone. This shows its adaptation to continental climate with cold winters and to open woodlands. The moth is found mainly from central Europe (here often already extinct) and Scandinavia (here still more common northward to the Arctic circle) eastward across colder regions of Asia (taiga belt) to northern Japan. In Europe, some isolated and often already rather old records are known southward to northern Spain, northern Italy and the countries bordering the Black Sea. Here it was mostly found in mountainous regions. It is also known from the British Isles.