Riband Wave
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Idaea aversata,
sitting on a nettle leaf |
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Idaea aversata Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is an abundant species in Europe, the Near East and North Africa, its distinctive outline familiar at lighted windows.
The species has a wingspan of 30-35 mm. The wings are buff or cream with dark fascia. Two main forms exist, equally abundant: One has darker shading between the central fascia (as in the picture), the other has not. The adults fly at night from June to August, occasionally later , and are attracted to light.
The larva is brown, tapering towards the front, and feeds on a variety of plants including bedstraw, chickweed, dandelion and knotgrass. The species overwinters as a small larva.
- ↑ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
[edit] External link
[edit] References
Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984