Idaea dilutaria, also called the silky wave, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in Europe.

Idaea dilutaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Idaea
Species:
I. dilutaria
Binomial name
Idaea dilutaria
(Hübner, 1799)
Fig 1,1a Larvae in various stages 1b enlarged details of segments

The species has a wingspan of 20–22 mm.Recognizable by its strongly silky gloss, the absence of costal colouration (the costal margin has merely a sparse dusting of dark scales), the unmarked distal margin and fringe.The ground-colour is yellowish-tinted the discal dots are minute and there are no terminal lines.The other lines are generally all of approximately equal expression, sometimes the postmedian a little stronger, sometimes the median of the forewing weak.The underside is similar, the postmedian line often a little stronger, theantemedian and sometimes the median of the forewing obsolete. The males antennal ciliation is short and even.[1]

The adults fly in one generation in July [1].

The larvae feed on Helianthemum nummularium.

Notes

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  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

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  1. ^ Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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