No common name
Common NameNo common name
Scientific NameIdaea ptyonopoda
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Primary Colorspale beige, dark brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, scrubland, grasslands
Geographic RangeSouthern Africa
Host Plantsvarious low-growing herbaceous plants, detritus
Flight PeriodMultiple broods, active most of the year
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (inchworm), pupa, and adult. Larvae are typically cryptic and feed on low-growing plants or detritus.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, pale ground color with fine dark speckling, and the characteristic dark discal spot on the forewing. Its slender body and typical geometrid resting posture (wings held flat) are also key.
Description
A small, slender moth with pale beige to light tan wings, finely speckled with dark scales. It features a prominent dark discal spot on the forewing and often a series of dark dots along the wing margins.
