Bug FAQSmall Dusty Wave
Idaea seriata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
The Small Dusty Wave moth has a wingspan of about 19 to 21 mm and is usually grey with a black discal spot, though its colour can vary from almost pure white to dark grey. It lives across western, central and northern Europe and also in parts of North Africa and the Near East, flying at night from June to September and is attracted to light. The caterpillars feed on ivy and overwinter in that stage; the species may have one or two generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults are generally grey with indistinct markings except for a black discal spot, but they can range from almost white without markings to solid black-grey.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan is about 19 to 21 mm, making it a very small moth.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on ivy and remain in that form over winter.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species can produce one or two broods each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes western, central and northern Europe and the same extra-European regions listed above.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Washington, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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/Small_dusty_wave
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.