Single-dotted Wave Moth
Idaea dimidiata
This record describes Idaea dimidiata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Color terms |
|
|---|---|
| Activity terms |
|
| Other recorded terms |
|
Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Idaea dimidiata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaea dimidiata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sterrhinae
- Tribe
- Sterrhini
- Genus
- Idaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found mainly but not always in damp locations such as marshy woodland, fens and river banks.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to August, the adult moths can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed from autumn through the winter on Cow Parsley and Burnet Saxifrage.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Generally common throughout Britain, apart from Scotland where it only occurs in the south. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idaea dimidiata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Single-dotted Wave Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Single-dotted Wave Moth
How big is Single-dotted Wave Moth?
18mm to 20mm (0.70" to 0.78")
Where is Single-dotted Wave Moth found?
Habitat: Found mainly but not always in damp locations such as marshy woodland, fens and river banks.
When is Single-dotted Wave Moth active?
Single-dotted Wave Moth: seasonal activity - Flying from June to August, the adult moths can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Single-dotted Wave Moth?
The larvae feed from autumn through the winter on Cow Parsley and Burnet Saxifrage.