About Lycophotia porphyrea (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775
Technical description and variation The wingspan of Lycophotia porphyrea ranges from 26 to 34 mm. Its forewings are brick red, with white veins. The lines on the forewings are dark, with irregular white edging. Its stigmata are edged with a mix of white and black scales; the claviform stigma is elongated and slender, while the orbicular stigma is small and round. The hindwing is coloured ochreous fuscous. Several forms of the species have been documented: form marmorea Grasl. from France has a pale, blurred appearance; form concinna Esp has a deep purple colour; form suffusa Tutt from Shetland is larger than the type form and is brown-red. See also Fibiger, 1993.
