Sunira circellaris (Hufnagel, 1766)

Host plants:
The young caterpillars live in catkins of willows and poplars and in flower buds of Fraxinus, Ulmus and Carpinus (occasionally even Acer sp.). The older ones then feed also on various herbs on the ground. Near Stuttgart and Memmingen I found many eggs not only on willows and poplars, but also on ash. Rearing showed that it were the species and not A. centrago. Additional eggs have been detected on Carpinus and Ulmus, single larvae also under Acer campestre.

Habitat:
The quite widespread species inhabits woodlands and groves of all kinds.

Life cycle:
The eggs overwinter. They are deposited singly or in small groups on flower buds. The young caterpillars live in the kitten from March, the later instars until May or early June on the ground. The prepupa rests for several weeks within the cocoon in the soil prior to pupation. The flight time is from mid-August to November with peak in September and early October.

Remarks:
The distribution extends across large parts of Europe and western Asia.