Cryphia muralis (Forster, 1771)

Description: Wingspan 27-34 mm. According to Skinner adults show some degree of colour variation ranging from white through to various shades of green. The green pigment, as in other similar species, is prone to fading within a short period of time. Forewings range from various shade of grey through to green. The crosslines are black and the stigmata are pale and finely outlined in black. The subterminal line is indistinct. Hindwings range from pale whitish brown to fuscous with white fringe.

Similar Species: The Marbled Beauty C. domestica, which is smaller and greyer in colour.

Key Identification Features:

• Location
• Colouration and chequered fringe on forewings
• Dark crosslines and pale stigmata

Sets:

Flight Period: Unknown in N. Ireland. Skinner gives July and August as the normal flight period in Britain.

Status: The only N. Ireland record is an old one dating from 1942 which may be erroneous. The Irish distribution is southern in Cos. Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford.

Ecology: A lichen-feeding species with a mainly coastal distribution in southern Ireland. Adults are attracted to light and flowers. Adults are said to rest by day on lichen covered walls and rocks. The larvae feed from October to May on Diploicia canescens and other species of lichen. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Local in western Europe and confined mainly to coastal localities and some inland localities from Spain to Denmark.