Gem
Common NameGem
Scientific NameIdaea gemmata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorspale yellow, brown, dark brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, gardens, woodland edges
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsdandelion, knotgrass, plantain, bedstraw
Flight PeriodMay to September (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are slender and twig-like, feeding on various low-growing herbaceous plants. They typically overwinter as larvae.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, pale ground color, and the distinctive dark, often wavy, central band that extends across both pairs of wings.
Description
A small, pale yellowish-brown moth characterized by a prominent, irregular dark brown central band across both fore and hindwings, and often a wavy outer margin.
