Zekelita antiqualis (Hübner, [1809])


Zekelita antiqualis: Adult (Samos, Kerkis, May 2014) [N] Zekelita antiqualis: L1 larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Half-grown larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Larva (e.o. rearing Samos 2014) [S] Zekelita antiqualis: Habitat in Samos (foothills of Mount Kerkis, May 2014) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on various Fabaceae. Records on Salvia (literature) are obviously erroneous.

Habitat:
Zekelita antiqualis inhabits dry and hot habitats like maquis, garrigues or rocky, bushy slopes.

Life cycle:
I recorded adults visiting Fabaceae flowerd in the late afternoon in Samos (May 2014).
Zekelita antiqualis is said to have only one generation with moths between April and July (Fibiger et al in Noctuidae Europeae, vol. 12). Thus pupae should hibernate. Other authors (e.g. Hacker, H., 1989: Die Noctuidae Griechenlands) suggest three generations from April to October. There is still more research needed.

Remarks:
Zekelita antiqualis occurs in Southeastern Europe (Italy, Balkans, Southern Ukraine, Southern Russia). It is also found in asia Minor, Levante and from there eastward to Afghanistan.



Zekelita canariensis | Zekelita ravalis 
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