Small White Wave

Geometridae : Larentiinae

Small White Wave

ASTHENA albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Kind permission - © Tim Norriss

Life Cycle Guide

Description

Wingspan: 20 - 22mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - ( Excluding - Azores,Balearic Is.,Canary Is.,Crete,Cyprus,Madeira,Malta,N Russia,Sardinia and Sicily) : east to central Asia and Japan
UK Distribution: England and Wales north to Cumbria and Northumberland - fairly well distributed : mainland Scotland - widespread : Isle of Man - seldom seen : northern Ireland - widely scattered records : Channel Isles - rare
UK Conservation Status -

Common = > 300 10km squares

European Conservation Status -

Least Concern

Original Species Name -

Phalaena albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Type Species - Asthena

Geometra candidata Schiffermüller, 1775

Type Locality -

Austria - Vienna Region

Flight Period: southern Britain - May - early July partial second brood August - September
Habitat: Broadleaved ancient Woodland
Similar Species -

None

Larva: The 15mm final instar larva is pale green with reddish pink blotches and brownish colouring along sides and underparts,the middle segment and legs showing more clearly,with few black bristles on back.
Pupa: Pupates among plant litter
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: Easily recognised moth, with its small size,pure white background and very wavy brown cross lines it stands out against any similar species.
Slight variations are not common with cross lined becoming wider in places or faint with one form has these lines running together.
Usually flies from sunset to dark and is attracted to light,usually in small numbers.

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.

Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - White Birch - Downy Birch
- Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Fagus sylvatica - Beech
Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Rosa canina - Dog Rose
Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
  - Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
    - Rosaceae - Rosa - Rose
    - Tiliaceae - Tilia - Lime

Larval Food Plants

Taxonomy

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Type Species - ASTHENA:

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Forms:

Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Larentiinae
Asthenini
ASTHENA Hübner 1825
Asthena albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)
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Geometra candidata Schiffermüller, 1775
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PHALAENA albulata (Hufnagel, 1767)
= Asthena candidata (Denis & Schifferüller, 1775).
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Berlin. Magazin. 4 (6) : Title Page : p.616/617 - n.96
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Austria - Vienna Region
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A.a.f.anastomosata Lempke, 1950 - cross lines run together