Clouded Border

This is a very distinctive species with white wings marked with black blotches around the margins. The amount of black varies, with the males usually (though not always) having more extensive black areas than the females. Occasionally almost entirely white or black individuals are seen, although this is rare. The wingspan is 24–28 mm. Lomaspilis marginata is extremely variable. Linnaeus's form has complete black border to both wings, also on the forewing additional spots or patches at base and middle of costa. Aberrations:

ab. nigrofasciata Schoyen: the median band, at least on the forewing, is complete, the marginal area is normal. ab. mediofasciata Hofner: has a complete median band but no marginal band. ab. dumeei de Joannis: lacks also the basal costal patch. ab. suffusa [Prout]: has the ground colour suffused with smoky yellow grey, the dark markings weak and blurred. ab. nigrounicolorata Haverkampf: is black throughout. ab. pollutaria Hbn.: has a narrow band of the ground colour at the distal margin, reducing and dividing into 2 parts the black marginal band. ab. subdeleta Ckll: forewmg with marginal band almost or altogether obsolete, narrow patches at base and middle of costa remaining, hindwing unmarked. ab. conflua Strand.: Costal patches confluent, also confluent with the marginal band. …