About Allophyes oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Technical description and variation of Allophyes oxyacanthae (originally cited as M. oxyacanthae L., 31 g): Forewings are reddish grey, mixed with fuscous. Nervures and the inner margin are lined with green scales, and a strong black streak runs from the base below the cell. Lines are finely black: the inner line angles sharply outwards at the end of the basal streak, and the outer line is marked with a bright white crescent on the submedian fold. All stigmata are large, pale pinky brown, and outlined in black. A diffuse black shade extends to the termen below vein 2. The submarginal line is faintly paler, and the area before it is generally paler. Hindwings are luteous whitish in males, and grey in females.
The previously classified form from Syria, benedictina Stgr. (31 g), is now recognized as the full species Allophyes benedictina (Staudinger, [1892]). This form has dark grey brown forewings and paler hindwings, while the hindwings of benedictina females are darker grey. Another previously classified form, occurring in Pontus, Palestine and Ussuriland, is asiatica Stgr., now recognized as the full species Allophyes asiatica (Staudinger, [1892]), which has pale grey forewings.
capucina Mill. (31 g h) is a form apparently restricted to the British Isles. Males are rich deep brown with darker shading, while females are darker duller brown. Its lines and markings are distinct, and male hindwings often have a rufous tinge. This form has no green scaling at all. corsica Spul., from the island of Corsica, is now the full species Allophyes corsica (Spuler, 1905), and is described as paler, with a more vivid yellowish red colour. pallida Tutt, found in Ireland and Berkshire, has pale reddish grey forewings, with only a small amount of green along the inner and outer margins.
The larva is dull slaty grey or brownish grey, covered with irregular black marks. Segment 4 is slightly raised, and an oblique dark streak appears on each side of this segment. Tubercles are pale and set on dark spots. Spiracles are fine and white, with black rings. The wingspan of Allophyes oxyacanthae is 35–45 mm.
