Polyphaenis sericata (Esper, 1787)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Ligustrum vulgare, in the Mediterranean region also on other shrubs.

Habitat:
Polyphaenis sericata inhabits warm scrub in a more dry environment, so on sunny edges of forests and especially in limestone grassland areas. Graded, loose shrub with open spaces is preferred.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters and can be easily found with a pocket lamp at night in April on the buds (0-2m above ground). During the day they are well concealed on the ground in old leaves, etc. The moths fly from late June through August.

Endangerment factors:
North of the Alps, Polyphaenis sericata is endangered, because warmth-loving, clear scrub usually is in the grip of dense dark forest management on the one hand and increasingly intensive agricultural use on the other and thus is becoming increasingly rare. In the last nutrient-poor grassland areas, the chances of survival are diminished on the one hand by radical bush removal measures by nature conservation (but moderate measureas are necessary) and on the other by complete succession and reforestation after total abandonment.

Remarks:
The total distribution extends from Southern Europe to Western Asia. Polyphaenis sericata occurs in the north to Central France, the Middle Rhine Valley and the Swabian and Franconian Alb in Germany. In the Swabian Alb, it is still quite widespread, especially on the northern edge.