About Pseudoterpna pruinata (Hufnagel, 1767)
This species, Pseudoterpna pruinata, has a wingspan of 30–35 mm. The adult moth is green, sometimes more or less bluish, and mixed with whitish scales. The forewings bear two dark green transverse lines, and the hindwings bear one; these lines vary in both intensity and exact position. The submarginal line is thick and whitish. Several named variations are documented. The variation agrestaria Duponchel is nearly unicolorous, with all dark lines fully effaced. It may form a local race in some locations such as southern France, but also occurs alongside the typical form in other areas. The variation virellata Krulikovsky, found in eastern Russia, may be a true local race. Based on its original author’s description, it is closely similar to agrestaria, but larger, probably darker, and has less white mixed into its colouration. The form fasciata ab. nov. [Prout], which occurs occasionally at least in Britain, is a distinct variant. In this form, the forewing lines are somewhat closer together, and the area between the lines is considerably darker than the surrounding ground colour of the wing. The larva is stout, tapering toward the anterior end. Its head is deeply divided into two pointed lobes, and the prothorax extends forward into two points. The body is nearly cylindrical, with a slight lateral flange. Its surface is strongly granulated and marked with whitish. The larva is green, with white subdorsal lines and a pink lateral line; the points of the head and prothorax, and the anus, are usually tipped with pink. The tubercles and setae are dark, but very small. The pupa is of moderate width, tapering toward the anterior end. It can be light brown, clay-coloured, or greenish, with irregular dark spots. The supraanal plate is elongated. The pupa rests inside a very slight cocoon made of just a few threads, located among leaves.
