About Diachrysia chrysitis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Diachrysia chrysitis (Linnaeus, 1758) has a wingspan of 28–35 mm, and the length of its forewings is 16–18 mm. Its forewings are brassy green, with a purplish brown basal patch and a broad purplish brown median fascia that widens at the costa. A shade before the subterminal line shows deeper green under certain lighting, the terminal area is paler brown, and all three stigmata have dark outlines. Its hindwing is fuscous with a pale fringe. Several recognized aberrations differ in pattern and color: ab. juncta Tutt has a median fascia that is more or less widely broken in the middle, making the two brassy green areas confluent; ab. aurea Huene has deep golden green coloring with confluent golden bands; ab. disjuncta Schultz is golden with non-confluent bands; and ab. scintillans Schultz has dull blue green bands. This moth flies from May to October, with timing depending on location. The larva is green with many fine whitish dorsal lines, sinuous white lines along the sides, and a white stripe above the feet. The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, including nettle, Lamium, thistles, and oregano.
