Technical description and variation
''M. algae'' F. (= ''spoliatricula'' Hbn) (4e). Forewing with basal area wholly, and marginal partly, pale green, marked with black; lines black, placed as in ravula; the median space brownish; some dark marks along the course of submarginal line; hindwing dull grey — ab. ''degener'' Esp. (4e) is more unicolorous, the pale green clouded with grey; a dark band beyond inner line. — In ab. ''mendacula'' Hbn. (4e) the whole forewing is varied with pale and dark scales intermixed. — ab. ''calligrapha'' Bkh. (4e) is a remarkably pretty aberration, in which the basal and marginal areas are more or less filled with lichen-yellow. Larva grey, bluish at the sides, with a dark grey dorsal line. 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 24–30 mm. The length of the forewings is 10–13 mm. The moth flies from July to September depending on the location. The larvae feed on various tree