Idaea aversata

(Linnaeus, 1758)

  • Subfamily: Sterrhinae, Sterrhini
  • Wingspan: 26-34 mm
  • Flight period: May - Sep
  • Spread: Common
  • Host plants: Polyphagous

Information

The Idaea aversata also called Riband Wave is a moth of the Geometridae family, subfamily Sterrhinae, with a wingspan of 26-34 mm.
It is distributed throughout Europe, in Italy it is also present in the islands. *
Its range extends to North Africa and the Middle East up to Japan. ****

The wings of the Idaea aversata have a cream-colored background color, (some specimens have a red-orange hue) with brown / black dusting and with a band that crosses all four wings and which, when at rest, looks like a continuous line. There are two main forms of this moth, one has a darker shading in the central band (as per the example in the photo), the other, the f. remutata , has none, but the fascia is in any case clearly distinguishable.
It has small and inconspicuous discal spots, sometimes absent, small marginal points are found on the outer edge almost forming a narrow marginal line.

The hind wings have the same color and design as the front ones Head, thorax and abdomen are in the background color of the wings.

Moth normally univoltine the adult of this species flies at night from May to September in particular cases, in Mediterranean areas, a second generation may occur.
It frequents deciduous forests, mixed woods, glades, gardens, scrubs and parks.

The eggs are ovoid with a translucent reddish color. ** The larva is brown in color with rhomboid spots lightly marked and on the back, tapers towards the front, a spot is visible near the sixth segment clear which clearly separates the coloring of the last segments.
The pupa is squat with color ranging from ocher green to reddish brown, two protuberances can be seen near the Cremaster. The Cremaster has a series of hooked appendages.

The larva grows on withered leaves of herbaceous plants such as including Galium, Cerastium arvense, Dandelion, Polygonum arenastrum, etc. ***


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa - https://leps.it/
**** Roland Robineau, Guide de papillons nocturne de France, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2011 p.42

Idaea aversata
Idaea aversata
Idaea aversata
Idaea aversata
Idaea aversata
Idaea aversata