About Hydraecia micacea Esper, 1789
The forewing of Hydraecia micacea Esper, 1789 can be pale greyish ochreous, dark grey, or brownish grey with a strong rufous tinge. The median area is darker, suffused with olive brownish, except along the costa and inner margin, especially between the median shade and outer line; the paler ground colour only shows in the terminal third. The inner and outer lines are brown; the inner line is excurved below the middle, while the outer line is oblique inwards, curved only below the costa, and generally followed by a paler, sometimes whitish line. The upper stigmata are large, match the ground colour, and have a fine brown outline. There is a dark median shade. The submarginal line is very variable: it is sometimes preceded by a dark shade, sometimes also followed by a dark shade, in other cases it is hardly visible, and it is sharply angled on vein 7, above which it is preceded by a dark costal patch. Veins towards the termen are dark. The hindwing is luteous, generally tinged with grey, with a dark outer line and submarginal cloud. The typical form is brownish grey tinged with rosy. Paler, more ochreous forms with very little red are referred to as ab. grisea Tutt; dark olive grey forms that also lack the red flush are referred to as ab. brunnea Tutt. The wingspan of this species ranges from 28 to 45 mm, and the forewing length ranges from 14 to 21 mm.
