Dorset Cream Wave
Common NameDorset Cream Wave
Scientific NameScopula immorata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorscream, white, brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, chalk downland, open woodland
Geographic RangeEurope, including localized populations in the UK (Dorset), and parts of Asia
Host Plantsheather, common bird's-foot trefoil, thyme
Flight PeriodLate May to early July (sometimes a partial second generation in August)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are slender and brownish, feeding on low-growing herbaceous plants. They overwinter as larvae before pupating in a cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, pale coloration, and characteristic faint wavy lines. The specific pattern of these lines and the small discal spot help differentiate it from other 'wave' moths, especially within its localized habitat in Dorset.
Description
A small, delicate moth with creamy-white to pale greyish-ochreous wings, marked with several faint, wavy, brownish transverse lines and a small discal spot on each wing.
