Idia aemula

Idia aemula, the common idia, powdered snout or waved tabby, is a litter moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1813. It is found from Canada south to Florida and Texas. It has been reported in the Palearctic.

Idia aemula
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Erebidae
Genus:	Idia
Species:	I. aemula
Binomial name
Idia aemula Hübner, 1813
Synonyms
Idia aemulalis Hübner, 1821 Idia undulalis (Stephens, 1834) Idia mollifera (Walker, 1858) Idia herminioides (Walker, 1860) Idia concisa (Walker, 1860)

The ground colour of both wings is medium grey. The basal, antemedial, postmedial lines are darker and thin. There is a more diffuse median line and sometimes a median shade. A pale subterminal line is preceded by a dark shade. The reniform spot is large and pale or warm ochre to orange brown. The hindwing has several wavy light and dark lines and a dark discal spot. The wingspan is 20–30 mm. In North America, adults are on wing from May to October in the north and from April to November in the south. There are two to three generations per year.

The larvae feed on dead leaves.

References

• Wagner, David L.; Schweitzer, Dale F.; Sullivan, J. Bolling & Reardon, Richard C. (2011). Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691150420.
• McLeod, Robin (June 22, 2018). "Species Idia aemula - Common Idia - Hodges#8323". BugGuide. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
• "930471.00 – 8323 – Idia aemula – Common Idia Moth – Hübner, 1814". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved January 27, 2020.