Geometridae : Sterrhinae
Lesser Cream Wave
SCOPULA (Calothysanis) immutata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lesser Cream Wave
SCOPULA (Calothysanis) immutata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 24-27mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Resident : England & Wales-widespread but normally distributed thinly,although sometimes frequent locally : SE Scotland : Most frequent in West Wales & South and eastern England.Local on Isle of Man and Ireland.
Flight Period: Late May-Early August-South-single brooded.
UK Conservation Status -
Altitude: Sea Level-700m
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in larval fod plant debris
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The Scopula genus comprise a number of difficult to identify species.
In flight the Lesser Cream White appears white or creamy white but when settled the fine scattering of black scales are noticeable along with the series of light brown wavy cross-lines. The hindwing has a small black dot which is often replicated on the forewing but is sometimes faint or missing altogether.
The similar species Cream Wave S.floslactata is larger than S.immutata and has forewings which are more pointed and arched towards the apex. The cross-lines are less defined and irregular.
The moth flies from dusk but can be disturbed during the day and comes to light.
The moth larvae may be bred in captivity using the larval food plants identified amongst the full list shown below.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Resident : England & Wales-widespread but normally distributed thinly,although sometimes frequent locally : SE Scotland : Most frequent in West Wales & South and eastern England.Local on Isle of Man and Ireland.
Flight Period: Late May-Early August-South-single brooded.
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena immutata Linnaeus, 1758
- Phalaena paludata Linnaeus, 1767
- Europe
Altitude: Sea Level-700m
Similar Species -
- Cream Wave Scopula floslactata Haworth, 1809
- Smokey Wave Scopula ternata Schrank, 1802
- Rosy Wave Scopula emutaria Hübner, 1809
- Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata Hufnagel, 1767
Pupa: Pupates in larval fod plant debris
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The Scopula genus comprise a number of difficult to identify species.
In flight the Lesser Cream White appears white or creamy white but when settled the fine scattering of black scales are noticeable along with the series of light brown wavy cross-lines. The hindwing has a small black dot which is often replicated on the forewing but is sometimes faint or missing altogether.
The similar species Cream Wave S.floslactata is larger than S.immutata and has forewings which are more pointed and arched towards the apex. The cross-lines are less defined and irregular.
The moth flies from dusk but can be disturbed during the day and comes to light.
The moth larvae may be bred in captivity using the larval food plants identified amongst the full list shown below.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster - Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Artemesia campestris - Field Southerwood
- Senecio vulgaris - Groundsel (Used in captivity only)
- Lythraceae - Loosestrife Family (In captivity)
- Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife (Used in captivity only)
- Plantaginaceae - Plantain Family
- Plantago major - Common Plantain
- Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
- Poa annua - Annual Meadow Grass
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup or Crowfoot Family
- Clematis vitalba - Traveller's Joy
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn (in captivity only)
- Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
- Valerianaceae - Valerian Family
- Valeriana officinalis - Valerian
- Violaceae - Violet - Pansy Family
- Viola canina - Heath Dog Violet
Larval Food Plant Slideshow
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - SCOPULA: Original Species Name: Genus Group Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Sterrhinae Scopulini SCOPULA Schrank, 1802 Calothysanis Hübner, [1823] Scopula (Calothysanis) immutata (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena paludata Linnaeus, 1767 - PHALAENA immutata (Linnaeus, 1758) - = SCOPULA Schrank 1802 = Glossotrophia Prout 1913 = Calothysanis Hübner 1823 = Ustocidalia Sterneck 1932 = Libanonia Hausmann 1993 = Glossotrophia Prout 1914 = Parenzanella Hausmann 1993 - Syst.Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.528 - n.188 - Europe - S.i.f.myrtillata Dadd, 1912-Wing ground colour nearly white S.i.f.flavescens Lempke, 1949-Ground colour yellowish S.i.f.grisescens Lempke, 1949-Grey with subterminal line white S.i.f.nigrolineata Lempke, 1967-Cross-lines stand out S.i.f.uniformata Lempke, 1967-No cross-lines -black spots present - S.i.immutata Linnaeus, 1758 S.i.contramutata Prout, 1913-Russia |