Plain / Riband Waves

[melbellingham]

Plain / Riband Waves:

Plain Wave is not a moth I have seen very often, but at a moth night at Fenn's Moss recently there were a few caught. I had always thought that it would be easy to differentiate between the two species, but from our experiences the other night it was not quite so.

Riband Waves I have caught in my garden have always been obvious, with the distinct kink in the third cross line making identification easy, but one I caught recently looks more like some of the Plain Waves seen at Fenn's Moss.

I had originally identified the moth in the attached image as Riband Wave, but I have looked at the photo so many times that I am now unsure. Each time I seem to change my mind and wonder whether it could be Plain Wave.

I would appreciate advice from recorders who may have seen this species more often than myself.

Thanks,

Mel.

[bungled]

Hi Mel.

This looks like a Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) to me. I have caught several Plain Waves (Idaea straminata), mostly several years ago, but can't claim familiarity with them. However, this moth looks too coarsely textured (i.e. not "silky") and the cross-lines are too strong I think. I have caught several Riband waves over the years where the outer cross line is not obviously kinked.

Cheers for now.
Geoff. L.

[melbellingham]

Thanks Geoff, it always helps when you have seen a few.

Mel.