Species Idia aemula - Common Idia - Hodges#8323

8323

called Waved Tabby in Europe

Idia aemula Hübner, 1814

Epizeuxis aemulalis Hübner, 1821

Herminia concisa Walker, 1860

Homoptera herminoides Walker, 1860

Microphysa mollifera Walker, 1858

Camptylochila undulalis Stephens, 1834

wingspan 20-30 mm

Adult: forewing reniform spot large, pale, conspicuously contrasting against ground color of wing; lines thin and not obviously thicker/darker at costa; dark shading in median area (if present) does not touch proximal edge of PM line at inner margin

Specimen identified by DNA analysis:

Genitalia:

most of North America and Eurasia

adults fly from May to October in the north; April to November in the south

larvae eat dead leaves

Idia concisa of authors, not (Walker, 1860) - "Idia aemula is probably a complex of 5-10 species, one of which is what is called concisa.” - Hugh McGuinness (pers. comm. 1/10/2018). This seems supported by DNA barcoding. However, if ‘concisa’ is not aemula, then it’s probably at least two good species. Based on barcode, having a forewing with dark medial bar and/or a contrastingly pale hind wind wing will separate most specimens from Idia aemula but it is far from conclusive. - Steve Nanz (4/11/2020)

American Idia (I. americalis) forewing has heavy dark marks along costa

Toothed Idia (I. denticulalis) forewing dark patch in median area touches proximal edge of PM line at inner margin, and reniform spot is small and indistinct (compare images of both species at CBIF)

also see images of ten other Idia species at MPG

Covell, p. 322, plate 41#12 (1)

Pacific Northwest Moths (2)

Moth Photographers Group (3)

adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)

common name reference plus flight season and larval food (Ohio State U.)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (4)