About Atethmia centrago (Haworth, 1809)
Atethmia centrago (Haworth, 1809) has a wingspan of 32–36 mm. Its forewing is deep yellow, with a greyish purple central fascia and a terminal area of the same greyish purple color beyond the submarginal line. The central fascia is edged inwardly by a pale vertical inner line, and outwardly by an obliquely sinuous outer line. The fascia does not reach above the middle except beyond the reniform stigma, which is the same greyish purple color. The fringe is greyish purple, and a small dark spot appears at the base of the cell. The hindwing is dull white, becoming yellowish rufous toward the termen. Some specimens have the entire forewing suffused with purple, with only the two lines showing yellowish and the central fascia darker; these specimens also have a redder hindwing. This variant is ab. unicolor Stgr. The variant pallida Stgr. from Asia Minor is a paler form, with reddish or greyish ochreous forewings and whiter hindwings. The variant maculifera Stgr. from Syria and Palestine is also a paler form, but it is yellowish, with a large dark reniform stigma, an outer pale line that is more strongly excurved above, and a greyish yellow hindwing. Its forewing is shorter, with a less produced apex. The larva is brownish, tending to grayish on the upper side and greenish gray on the underside, and is freckled with darker brown. It has three whitish lines along its back; the central line is the widest, and is only truly distinct on the middle part of each body segment. The lines are margined with black; the edging of the central line is irregular, while the edging of the other two lines is more complete. The spiracles are whitish, and the area above them is dark grey-brown, enclosing paler spaces on each segment. The head is shining grey-brown, freckled with blackish. This moth produces one generation per year, flying from August to early October. The caterpillars of this species feed mainly on ash.
