About Gynaephora selenitica Esper, 1789
Gynaephora selenitica is a moth species belonging to the family Erebidae. It was first described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1789. This species ranges from central Europe through eastern Europe, extending all the way to the Urals and Ob' River in West Siberia. It is not present in western and southern Europe, nor in Scandinavia. Male moths of this species have a wingspan of 20 to 25 mm, while female moths have a larger wingspan of 30 to 35 mm. Adult moths are active between May and June. The larvae of Gynaephora selenitica are polyphagous. They feed mainly on Fabaceae species, including Lotus, Coronilla, Hippocrepis, and Onobrychis. They also feed on various shrubs such as Prunus spinosa, Salix, Vaccinium, Calluna, and Rosa, along with other plants from families Asteraceae and Rosaceae, including the Rosaceae genus Potentilla. Larvae can be found from July to April. This species overwinters while in its larval stage.
