Description: Wingspan 30-35mm. Adults are generally a reddish or greyish colour with three distinctive median cross lines on the forewings and two on the hindwings. The banded form has a well-defined darkish broad band across all wings. From the beginning of June to the end of August.

Irish Distribution: Widespread and commonly recorded in southern counties. Less frequent further north.

Ecology: Commonly encountered in a wide variety of habitats. Adults appear frequently at light in moderate numbers. The larvae can be found from September to May on a variety of low-growing plants such as bedstraw Galium spp. and Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare. It overwinters as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinguished from the Plain Wave ~5788#I. straminata~ by the absence of the discal spots
• Sub-terminal line is straight rather than indented.
• Banded form has a well-defined darkish broad band across all wings

Distribution Map from NBN: Idaea aversata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Idaea aversata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.