Insect
Hylaea mediterranea
Hylaea mediterraneaHylaea mediterranea is a nocturnal geometrid moth intricately tied to dry conifer woodlands across the Mediterranean basin. Adults feature warm reddish-brown to greyish forewings crossed by distinctive pale transverse bands that disguise them against weathered pine bark. The twig-mimicking caterpillars feed on pine needles before forming loose cocoons within ground litter or shallow soil.
NocturnalCrypticMediterranean
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPine foliage, Flower nectar, Plant exudates
Predators
- Bats
- Insectivorous birds
- Spiders
ThreatsWildfires, extensive forestry clearing, and indiscriminate pesticide spraying
HabitatsMediterranean pine woodlands, coastal conifer stands, and maquis
Life spanUp to 1 year across all stages; adults live 1–2 weeks
Classification
- FamilyGeometridae
- SpeciesHylaea mediterranea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Light Attraction: Set up a UV light trap or illuminated sheet near pine stands to view adults at night.
- Gentle Inspection: Avoid touching resting adults directly to prevent wiping off delicate wing scales.
Host Plant C messier / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator "Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)" by Meneer Zjeroen is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Janet Graham, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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