Thalpophila vitalba (Freyer, 1834)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on grasses.

Habitat:
Thalpophila vitalba inhabits more dry and warm, grassy sites such as rocky slopes, heaths or pastures, but also in open woodlands. I recorded the larvae together with those of Leucochlaena oditis in rocky gorse garrigues in N-Portugal and along woodland tracks in the Sierras de Gredos and Srr. del Segura in Spain.

Life cycle:
The moths are on the wing in late summer and early autumn. The larvae overwinter and are mature in winter or early spring. I recorded them between October and late March, in higher altitudes around 1200m singly still in early May.

Remarks:
Thalpophila vitalba occurs from NW-Africa across the Iberian Peninsula to S-France and Italy.