Varied Wave Moth
S10, dorsal
Ellura
Cream Wave Moth
S1, dorsal
 
                 
Varied Wave Moth (Scopula optivata)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera)
Family: Geometer (:Geometridae Sterrhinae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Varied Wave Moth (Scopula optivata)
This Photo:     S4, Female, ventral

Thank you Axel Kallies & Dr Bevan Buirchell for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA), the Adelaide Hills, Coastal Areas and elsewhere
~25mm wingspan. These seem quite fragile.
It is difficult to be sure, but we think males have finely hairy antennae (very difficult to see even in photographs), while we think female antennae are smooth. Both are filiform.

Similar Species: Wavy Noctuid (Ericeia subsignata)

Copyright © 2017-2025 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 23-Mar-2017
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.