Species Account

Select species and region:

Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Common and widespread resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: Two generations, May-Jul, Jul-Sep.

Forewing: 14-16mm.

Foodplant: Goat Willow, Grey Willow, sallows and poplars.

IMPORTANT - Please note that the maps and accounts are provisional, subject to change and further update. The whole dataset still needs to go through the final verification process and it is likely that a very small number of records will not satisfy the present requirements and there are other records that have not been formally submitted. The information is for guidance only.

Record breakdown:

	VC9	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1905	1982	1905
Year last recorded	2011	2011	2011
Number of records	2309	156	4930
Number of individuals	3151	256	6814
Unique positions	295	21	632
Unique locations	218	18	472
Adult records	1979	155	4268
Immature records	2	0	4

For the region, we have a total of 4930 records from 472 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1905.

Photos

Species Account

Similar species: 1955 Cabera pusaria (Common White Wave).

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: A frequent species in Britain, the larva feeding on sallow (Salix spp.) and aspen (Populus tremens). In Dorset, the moth frequents sallow-rich habitat which is mainly, but not exclusively, in damp situations; it is seldom seen far from sallow-rich habitat. The moth is double brooded in Dorset, but, like the Common White Wave¹⁹⁵⁵, relatively high numbers between the respective brood peaks in late-May and mid-August suggest an additional univoltine cycle.

Care is needed to correctly identify this and Common White Wave¹⁹⁵⁵. Diagnostics include: weakly-marked cross lines; smoothly-curved cross lines (not straight).

See background to species accounts. Index of Vernacular names - Search - Random Species