Thaumetopoea herculeana (Rambur, 1840)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Cistaceae and Geraniaceae. I found them in Fuerteventura on Helianthemum, Geranium und Erodium.

Habitat:
Thaumetopoea herculeana inhabits dry slopes, stony pastures and similar biotopes.

Life cycle:
The adults occur in Fuerteventura in autumn and winter. The larvae can be found there from January to early April. The pupa aestivates then and lie partly several years. According to literature, Thaumetopoea herculeana should have two generations on the Iberian Peninsula.

Remarks:
Thaumetopoea herculeana occurs from Fuerteventura across North Africa to the Near East. In Europe it is only found in the Iberian Peninsula, but is absent there from the north.