Setina irrorella (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on lichens, mainly on stones and probably also on mosses and algae or dead plants.

Habitat:
Setina irrorella colonizes stony and rocky, mountainous grasslands and alpine meadows with stones and rocks. The moth is rising very high to over 2900m above sea level, where it is separated due to its variability sometimes difficult from Setina aurita.

Life cycle:
In the lower mountains wintered caterpillars are found from March to June, moths fly from May to July or August. In the Alps, the phenology is correspondingly later.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
This species has recently become increasingly sparse. It is sensitive to excessive encroachment and shading of the habitat.

Remarks:
The moths can be easily flushed. The caterpillars are quite conspicuous on the rocks, especially when there are humid days.

The distribution extends from almost the whole of Europe to Siberia. Setina irrorella is native even well above the Arctic Circle.