Purple wave
Common NamePurple wave
Scientific NameIdaea muricata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorspurplish-brown, reddish-brown, yellow
HabitatDamp grasslands, fens, marshes, heathlands, woodland clearings
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsheather, knotgrass, dandelion, plantain, bedstraw
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are slender, brownish 'loopers' that feed on various low-growing plants and overwinter as larvae.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, purplish-brown wings with a faint wavy line, and the prominent yellowish costal margin of the forewing, often with a reddish fringe.
Description
A small moth with purplish-brown wings, a faint darker wavy line, and a distinctive yellowish leading edge on the forewing, with a reddish fringe.
