Other Common Names
called Waved Tabby in Europe
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Idia aemula Hübner, 1814
Epizeuxis aemulalis Hübner, 1821
Herminia concisa Walker, 1860
Homoptera herminoides Walker, 1860
Microphysa mollifera Walker, 1858
Camptylochila undulalis Stephens, 1834
Identification
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:
Range
most of North America and Eurasia
Season
adults fly from May to October in the north; April to November in the south
See Also
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
Print References
Covell, p. 322, plate 41#12
(1)Internet References
adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
common name reference plus flight season and larval food (Ohio State U.)