Xanthia icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on kitten of Salix and especially Populus tremula. Later, they feed on the ground even on herbs if necessary. I recorded most larvae and eggs on aspen. Only on willow the species may occur together with X. togata.

Habitat:
Xanthia icteritia inhabits like Xanthia togata softwood rich habitats of all kinds. Contrarily to X. togata this species is also found commonly in the warm and dry lowlands.

Life cycle:
The young caterpillars live in kittens like those of X. togata, the older ones then on the ground (fallen kittens or herbs). The flight time is mainly from August to October, but some individuals may emerge from June. The eggs are deposited in small batches that are covered with a hardening secretion. The larvae hatch from late February and live until May, only rarely still in early June. The prepupa usually lasts some weeks.

Remarks:
Xanthia icteritia is distributed from Morocco across Europe and large part of temperate Asia to Japan.