Grass emerald

The wingspan is 30–35 mm. It is green, sometimes more, sometimes less bluish, mixed with whitish, the forewing with two, the hindwing with one dark green transverse line, varying in intensity and in exact position; submarginal line thick, whitish. The variation agrestaria Duponchel is nearly unicolorous, the dark lines being entirely effaced. It possibly tends to form a local race in some places (as southern France) but certainly occurs in others together with the type. The variation virellata Krulikovsky, from eastern Russia, perhaps truly a local race, would appear, from its author's description, to be closely similar to the last-named form, but larger and probably darker, less mixed with white. As fasciata ab. nov. [Prout] may be described as a handsome form of occasional occurrence (at least in Britain) with the lines of forewing somewhat approximated and the area between them considerably darker than the ground colour.[2]

Fig 3,3a,3b,1c,1d Larva after final moult

The larva is stout, tapering anteriorly; head deeply bifid, the divisions pointed; prothorax produced to two points anteriorly, body nearly cylindrical, with slight lateral flange, surface strongly granulated with whitish; green with white subdorsal lines, pink lateral line and usually tipped with pink on the points of head and prothorax and at anus; tubercles and setae dark, but minute.

Pupa of moderate width, tapering anteriorly; light brown, clay coloured or greenish, irregularly dark spotted, supraanal plate long. Rests in a very slight cocoon formed of a few threads among leaves.

It can be found in such habitats as heathland, moorland, and commons,[3] where its larvae feed on broom, gorse and petty whin.[4]

Habitas include mainly dry and warm regions, heath, steppes, semi-dry or dry grassland, stone quarries and forest edges.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudoterpna pruinata.

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