Idaea costaria
Common NameIdaea costaria
Scientific NameIdaea costaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, pink, tan
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, coastal dunes, open woodlands
Geographic RangeWestern and Central Europe, including British Isles
Host Plantsheather, thyme, bedstraw, various low-growing herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodJune to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on low-growing plants and overwintering before pupating in a cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its relatively uniform pale brownish-pinkish coloration, diffuse postmedial line, and reddish-brown wing fringes.
Description
A small, delicate moth with pale brownish-pinkish wings, often featuring a faint darker cross-line and a reddish-brown fringe, providing cryptic camouflage.
