Gynaephora selenitica (Esper, 1789)

Host plants:
The caterpillar is polyphagous and feeds especially on Fabaceae (Lotus, Coronilla, Hippocrepis, Onobrychis), besides also shrubs (Prunus spinosa, Salix, Vaccinium, Calluna, Pink) and other plants (such as Asteraceae, Rosaceae like Potentilla and others).

Habitat:
Gynaephora selenitica inhabits limestone grasslands and occurs mainly in higher growing stocks that are interspersed with bushes. More rarely there are also observations in the literature from heath bogs (e.g. from the Federsee area in Baden-Württemberg). In some years, the caterpillars are very common in September and early October. But in the spring only a few are still left (parasitoids, fungal infection, diseases).

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters grown up and is found from July to April, but especially in the autumn. They suffer heavy losses in the winter. The moths fly in May and June. The males are diurnal.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
Gynaephora selenitica is highly endangered. Causes: Loss of large habitats by succession and afforestation, agricultural intensification and overbuilding. Gynaephora selenitica needs probably comparatively large habitats for long-term survival due to their strong fluctuations.

Remarks:
Gynaephora selenitica is distributed from Central Europe across astern Europe to the Urals. It lacks in western and Southern Europe and Scandinavia.
Gynaephora selenitica is missing in Central Europe in the true Alpine region, but found very sporadically in the northern foothills of the Alps.