| Riband Wave | |
|---|---|
| Idaea aversata, sitting on a nettle leaf |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Genus: | Idaea |
| Species: | I. aversata |
| Binomial name | |
| 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 [1], 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.
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