About Orthosia gracilis (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775
Technical description and variation of Orthosia gracilis: The wingspan measures 35–40 mm. Males have pale grey or ochreous grey forewings, while females have dark grey forewings; the wings are generally more or less sprinkled with dark grey scales. The orbicular and reniform stigmata have pale outlines and are filled with grey; the lower half of the reniform stigma is dark grey. The outer line is marked by black dots on the veins, and the inner line is mostly obsolete. The submarginal line is ochreous or rufous, and is sometimes preceded by a dark shade. Males have whitish hindwings that turn grey towards the termen, and are blackish immediately before the pale fringe; females have entirely grey hindwings. The form pallida Stph. is a whitish variant with almost no dark dusting. In the form rosea Tutt, the ground colour of the wings is flesh coloured. The form rufescens Cockll is red-brown. The former Japanese form ella Btlr., now recognized as the full species Orthosia ella, differs only by having stronger wing markings, and sometimes has a red-brown flush.
