Dwarf Cream Wave
Idaea fuscovenosa
This record describes Idaea fuscovenosa (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 19 to 22 mm. A very delicate looking pale cream moth it is fairly distinctive with a narrow, dark costal streak. The dark spots on the wings are also usually fairly prominent in this species. It inhabits open areas of woodland, parks and gardens and other weedy places. Adults are on the wing in June and July. Single-brooded. The larvae feed on low-lying plants such as dandelion and moss. Distributed throughout much of England, this species is fairly frequent in some places in the south, but becomes scarcer further north. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Idaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits open areas of woodland, parks and gardens and other weedy places.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on the wing in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Single-brooded. The larvae feed on low-lying plants such as dandelion and moss.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed throughout much of England, this species is fairly frequent in some places in the south, but becomes scarcer further north. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idaea fuscovenosa. 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 Dwarf Cream Wave (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dwarf Cream Wave
What is Dwarf Cream Wave?
Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dwarf Cream Wave found?
Habitat: It inhabits open areas of woodland, parks and gardens and other weedy places.
When is Dwarf Cream Wave active?
Dwarf Cream Wave: seasonal activity - Adults are on the wing in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Dwarf Cream Wave?
Single-brooded. The larvae feed on low-lying plants such as dandelion and moss.