Trichiura crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larvae mostly feed on shrubby Rosaceae, especially Prunus spinosa, but also P. padus or Crataegus. They are occasionally found on other woods such as Salix or Carpinus.

Habitat:
Trichiura crataegi inhabits warm, shrub-dominated habitats such as hedgerows in grasslands, forests or open floodplain forests. The ssp. ariae occurs in the (central) Alps in the dwarf shrub belt.

Life cycle:
The flight time is in September and early October. The egg overwinters. The caterpillars live mostly rather individually, but especially in younger instars and on low shrubs also sociable and are mature in early June. The moth develops in the pupa not before there are cooler night temperatures from mid-August.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
Also this species is decreasing due to the reduction of open, warm, shrubby habitats and coppice woodlands.

Remarks:
Trichiura crataegi is widespread in Europe and Asia Minor.