No widely accepted common name
Common NameNo widely accepted common name
Scientific NameIdaea mediaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorspale cream, grey, black
HabitatDry grasslands, heathlands, open woodlands, scrub
Geographic RangeCentral and Southern Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsdandelion, knotgrass, plantain, various withered herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodJune to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae overwinter, feeding on withered leaves of various low-growing herbaceous plants. Pupation occurs in a cocoon near the ground, with adults emerging in the summer months.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its generally pale coloration and the specific arrangement of its faint, wavy transverse lines, particularly the median line on the forewing, which can be subtle. It is typically smaller and more delicately marked than many other 'wave' moths.
Description
A small, delicate moth with pale cream to whitish wings adorned with several faint, wavy greyish-brown transverse lines and scattered dark speckles, often with a darker fringe along the wing margins.
