Zygaena sarpedon (Hübner, 1790)

Host plants:
Eryngium campestre and other Eryngium species

Habitat:
Zygaena sarpedon lives in calcareous grasslands, in broad forest fringes, in the scrub (maquis/garigue), on clearings in the bright oak forest and steppe-like heathland.

Life cycle:
In the Valle di Susa (NW-Italy) I observed the caterpillars at 1000m above sea level in April/May and adults in July and early August. In France I met adults together with Zygaena erythrus, Zygaena hilaris and Zygaena occitanica in mid-July 2010.

Endangerment factors:
Zygaena sarpedon is locally endangered by bush encroachment after abandonment, but also intensification of the habitats (agriculture and forestry) and overbuilding.

Remarks:
The Atlanto-Mediterranean species is found in the Iberian Peninsula, in Southern and locally Central France, and also very locally in Northwest Italy (Susa Valley, Liguria).