Bug FAQCross-lined Wave
Timandra amaturaria · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: (American) Cross-lined Wave, Cross-lined Wave Moth
The cross-lined wave moth has a wingspan of about 20 to 28 mm and adults show hooked forewings with pointed hindwings.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults have hooked forewings. The hindwings are pointed.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 20 to 28 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on certain species of Polygonum and Rumex.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active during the months of May through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are cross-lined wave moths active?
Adults are on the wing from May through September.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timandra_amaturaria
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.