Common Wave
Cabera exanthemata
This record describes Cabera exanthemata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30 to 35 mm. Superficially similar to the Common White Wave ( C. pusaria ), this species has a dusky sprinkling of brownish scales and the cross-lines are more curved. It prefers damp woodland and marshy areas Between May and August, with two broods in the south. It can be found fairly commonly throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Cabera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers damp woodland and marshy areas
Seasonal Activity
Between May and August, with two broods in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Willow and Aspen.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It can be found fairly commonly throughout Britain. 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 Cabera exanthemata. 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 Common Wave (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Wave
What is Common Wave?
Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Wave found?
Habitat: It prefers damp woodland and marshy areas
When is Common Wave active?
Common Wave: seasonal activity - Between May and August, with two broods in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Common Wave?
The larvae feed on Willow and Aspen.