The wingspan is 34–38 mm. The ground colour of the forewings is creamy white to bright white. The basal field is markedly black-brown in colour. There is a large black-brown on the front edge behind the middle and almost to the apex. There is a double crossline of dark grey colour and a white wavy line in the grey marginal field with very small black discal flecks also present. The hindwings are white, have a grey marginal field that is crossed by a faint whitish squiggle and there is a thin, dark cross line and a small black middle spot. Adult caterpillars are strongly coloured green. On the dorsum they show very distinctive yellow-brown to red-brown arrow spots.[1][2]
Fig.3, 3a larvae after final moult
Biology
The moth is single brooded and flies from mid May to mid August.[1]
The species inhabits open forests, forest edges, wetlands, shore areas as well as gardens and parks.
Similar species
Catarhoe cuculata with a wingspan of 22 to 27 millimeters is significantly smaller and also shows reddish-brown marks in the basal and marginal fields. In Melanthia procellata the dark basal field is smaller, the costal edge shows a narrow stripe and the large dark discal spot is extended further than in albicillata.
Notes
^The flight season refers to Belgium and The Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.
References
^ Patrice Leraut: Geometrid moths. In: Moths of Europe. 1. Auflage. Band 2. NAP Editions, 2009, ISBN 978-2-913688-09-4 in English
