About Cerastis rubricosa (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775
Cerastis rubricosa (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775 has a wingspan of 32–38 millimetres (1.3–1.5 in). Its forewings are red-brown, patterned with grey, and sometimes have a purplish-brown tinge. The stigmata are grey with fine dark outlines, with a broad angled median shade, and all wing lines originate from black costal spots. The hindwing is fuscous grey, and the fringe is grey. This species is generally distributed across Europe, with the exception of Spain, and is also found in western Siberia and western Turkestan. Several different forms of this species have been described. The form rufa Haw., the most common form in Britain, is almost entirely rufous, and has a pink fringe. The form mucida Esp. is dark purplish red, with slaty grey costa and subterminal shade. The form pilicornis Brahm has a red ground that is almost entirely obscured by grey suffusion, with brownish crosslines; pallida Tutt is simply an extreme pale form of pilicornis Brahm. Finally, the form mista Hbn. is brick red, with grey costa, crosslines, and outer margin.
