About Catephia alchymista (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775
Technical description and variation: For Catephia alchymista Schiff, the forewings are ash-black, with deep black lines. The inner and outer lines are irregularly dentate, and are partially brown-edged on their outer side. The subterminal line is light brown, irregular and dilated in spots, marked with white at the costa. The stigmata have deep black edges. The hindwing is white on its basal half, except along the inner margin; the inner margin, like the outer half of the hindwing, is blackish. White terminal spots extend out into the fringe, at the apex and above the anal angle. The larva is reddish brown, marbled with black and whitish, with black dorsal tubercles and a brown head. The front of segment 2 is yellow. The aberration varia Chr., found in Sarepta, has greenish grey forewings with very strongly marked black lines. The wingspan of the species ranges from 35 to 45 millimetres (1.4 to 1.8 in).
Distribution: This species is found in southern and central Europe, extending north to Latvia and Lithuania, and east through southern Russia to the Urals, as far south as the Caucasus. It also occurs on the larger Mediterranean islands including Cyprus, in North Africa, Israel, and Asia Minor. It sometimes appears in England as a migrant. In the Alps, it occurs at elevations up to 800 meters. It can be found in areas with oak trees, including oak and mixed forests, alluvial forests, bushy heaths, and parklands.
