Technical description and variation
''M. raptricula'' Hbn. (= ''pomula'' Bkh.) (4b). Forewing elongate, grey with darker clouds; the lines obscure: inner outwardly oblique, twice curved: outer followed by a white crescent on submedian fold, beyond which is a black streak deflected through the fringe; stigmata inconspicuous, with dark edges; hindwing dull whitish, greyer towards margin. — The ab. ''carbonis'' Frr. (4b), as the name implies, is black. — ab. ''deceptricula'' Hbn. (4 c) has a pale brown horizontal streak from base of costa through cell to outer line and beyond, sometimes broken up into patches, and the inner margin darker. — ''oxybiensis'' Mill. (4c) is more uniformly grey than the type, while ab. ''striata'' Stgr. is distinguished by a black central streak: — lastly, ab. ''eretina'' Calb. (4c), much resembling the'' ab. ''deceptricula, is said to have the palpi yellow and porrect (extending forward), a statement which suggests, at least, a distinct species. Milliere, who considered his ''oxybiensis'' distinct, suspected its larva to feed on lichens growing on old olive-trees. — Larva blue grey, with two yellow- and white-spotted stripes. Feeds on ''Sticta pulmonacea''. Warren. W. in Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 ''Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde'', Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914 The wingspan is 29–36 mm. The length of the forewings is 12–14 mm.Biology
The moth flies from June to October depending on the location. The larvae feed on variousReferences
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