About Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767)
This species, known scientifically as Cosmia affinis (Linnaeus, 1767), has the following description and variation. For the typical form: the forewing is fulvous or red-brown, with more or less grey shading; the inner and outer lines are dark, conversely edged with paler tones, and are generally marked on the costa by white scale streaks; the stigmata are paler red-brown and undefined, with the orbicular stigma round and the reniform stigma 8-shaped, both with dark centers; the submarginal line is pale and waved, preceded by a deeper brown cloud, followed on the costa by white scales, with two black spots present beyond this beyond it at the apex; a row of small black marginal spots runs along the edge; the hindwing is blackish, pure black across its terminal half, and has a yellowish fringe. Aberrations in colour that replace the typical red tints exist: greenish grey or pale brown examples form ab. suffusa Tutt and ab. ochrea Tutt. A less common aberration occurs on the continent, and is not confined only to females as Spuler stated. The newly described ab. nigrimaculata is marked by patches of black scales in the basal area along the cell and vein 1, before and below the orbicular stigma, beyond the reniform stigma in the angle of the outer line, and more faintly before the termen. Japanese specimens of Cosmia affinis are much larger than European specimens; this larger form is classified as magna Stgr. In this Japanese form, white costal streaks are always less strongly developed, and are often entirely absent, with the insect being more or less uniformly red-brown; this uniform form is classified as ab. unicolor Stgr. The larva of Cosmia affinis is pale green, with five white lines, and has black tubercles and black spiracles. The species' wingspan measures 28–33 mm.
