251 Egira conspicilaris (Silver Cloud)'

73.251 Egira conspicilaris (Silver Cloud)

ws: 36-42mm (MBGBI9), fw: 16-18mm (Waring & Townsend); Apr-May; foodplant uncertain; NS-A lower Severn valley

Egira conspicilaris (Silver Cloud) §2 male, form meleleuca

ID: Two forms, both with pale tegulae, and irregular pale forewing dorsum, obscure stigmata, a white hindwing and dark-lined veins on both forewing and hindwing. In form conspicillaris the remainder of the forewing is mottled shades of grey and brown (said to be sexually dimorphic with the female darker than the male, all specimens I have seen (18) have been male). In form melaleuca the remainder of the forewing is blackish-brown (and the sexes have an identical forewing pattern).
Male genitalia:
Female genitalia:

Variation
Dissection
Male genitalia
Female genitalia

§1 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form meleleuca
§2 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form meleleuca fw 16.7mm
§3 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form meleleuca
§4 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form conspicillaris
§5 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form meleleuca
§6 Bringsty Common, Herefordshire; 08/05/2024; male, form conspicillaris; fw 17.3mm
All images © Chris Lewis

Page published 23/05/2024 (§1-6)