Day 336 - Rippling Winged Riband Wave Moths

Riband Wave moth (Idaea aversata) at Titchwell toilets

Hey everyone, Day 336 and today I've got a lovely moth that I've seen in a lot of places I go. I've seen them in Norfolk, at Nosterfield, in the Lake District and at home. I always like looking at Moths, wherever they are. Before I'd started my blog I'd seen the odd moth in our porch that had probably stopped off there after being attracted by the porch light but I hadn't seen many varieties. That has changed so much during the last year, I've see so many varieties and there are a lot more out there!

Another from Titchwell.

Apart from my moth trapping at Nosterfield the other place I've seen most varieties was, perhaps bizarrely, the toilets at RSPB Titchwell. I almost did a series of posts called the Titchwell Toilet Series as I saw so many!

I shall be looking for more chances to go moth trapping! Today's post will be on the beautiful Riband Wave Moths. They are very nice to look at, just like all nature.

So, here are the facts:

One from our caravan at Kelling

• They are very common all over the UK, like all Moths they get less common the more North and East you go.

• They are probably the most common Moth in Ireland that I have seen in my blog so far. I always liked a record beaker!

• Going back to the first fact, it seems that the reason for this is because they have a second brood in the South only.

Looking under the wings

• They are quite a small Moth, their wingspan is only 23mm - 30mm. I can't think that I've covered many smaller Moths except Agapeta Hamana which is one of my favourites! Check out the link if you cant remember why!

• They are seen flying commonly between June and August. Almost all of the moths that I have covered are found between these times.

• The larvae feed on a range of plants found down low such as Dandelion, Dock, Besdtraw and Knotgrass.

• You can find the larvae from September all the way through to May as they overwinter as larvae.

This is the version with the longer name
Idaea aversata ab. remutata 

• They are found in a lot of habitats including gardens, hedgerows, woodland, grassland and fens/lakes. 

• I have seen them in some of their different forms as you can see in the pictures.

• The typical form, the one you can see in the first pictures, it has a dark band across all four of its wings. The other form has only narrow cross lines, this form has a longer latin name!

A bugs eye view from Nosterfield

Here are some links to some more information:

NatureSpot - Riband Wave Moths

UK Moths - Riband Wave Moths

Hope you enjoyed,

Z.