Fen Wave
Common NameFen Wave
Scientific NameScopula caricaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorspale cream, light brown, grey
HabitatFens, bogs, wet meadows, marshy areas
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host PlantsCarex, Galium, Potentilla
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are slender and twig-like, feeding on sedges and other low plants. They overwinter as larvae, pupating in a flimsy cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its pale coloration, faint wavy lines, and small discal spot on the forewing. Often found in fen habitats and associated with sedge host plants. Careful examination of wing patterns is needed to differentiate from similar *Scopula* species.
Description
A small, delicate moth with pale cream to whitish wings, marked with several faint, wavy, light brown or grey transverse lines and fine dark speckling. A small dark discal spot is present on the forewing.
