Violet Wave
Common NameViolet Wave
Scientific NameIdaea muricata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Primary Colorspale brown, grey, purple
HabitatDamp grasslands, fens, marshes, heathland, open woodland
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsheather, thyme, bedstraw, knotgrass, dandelion
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larva overwinters and feeds on low-growing plants, pupating in a cocoon among leaf litter or soil.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, pale color with a subtle violet or pinkish hue (though variable), and the distinctive wavy transverse lines across both forewings and hindwings.
Description
A small, delicate moth with pale brownish-grey wings, often with a subtle purplish or pinkish tinge, marked by several wavy, darker transverse lines and a mottled appearance.
