| Marbled Green (Nyctobrya muralis (Forster, 1771)) |
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Scientific name: Nyctobrya muralis (Forster, 1771) Common name: Marbled Green Other names: Other scientific name: Cryphia muralis. French name: Bryophile du lichen, Rupestre. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Noctuidae Subfamily: Bryophilinae Wingspan: 27-34 mm. Biotope: Dry meadows, waste lands, open forests, stone quarries, embankments, vineyard terraces. Geographic area: Central and southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor. Flight time: June to September. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Blackish to very dark greenish with a white dorsal stripe which is often interrupted. Host plant: Lichens and algae, on trunks, rocks or walls. |
The Marbled Green shows narrow fore wings which are generally a pale green ground colour. The orbicular and reniform spots are outlined with black. The orbicular spot is a dark colour, the reniform spot shows a paler area. They are followed by a strongly curved black line, outlined with white, and not reaching the costal edge. The margin bears small black arrow-shaped markings. The hind wings are greyish brown with a white fringe. Old specimens may appear more whitish. Some populations living on dark rocks are a much darker colour. Marble Greens over winter as caterpillars at an intermediate development state. The Marbled Beauty (Bryophila domestica) is a smaller size. The base of the fore wings shows a pale cross band, outlined with black, and completely crossing the wing. This band does not reach the inner edge of the wing on the Marbled Green. |
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Here is the typical form of the Marbled Green. |
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Side view. |
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Very calm during its daytime rest, this Marbled Green allowed me to measure its size. |
André Bon July 2022