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GEOMETRIDAE : Sterrhinae : Scopulini
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70.026 Scopula ternata (Calothysanis) (Smoky Wave)
fw: 12-15mm; Jun-Jul; heather (Calluna vulgaris), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus); local on moorland and heath in N.England, N.Wales and Scotland, uncommon further south
Scopula ternata (Smoky Wave) §1 female
ID: Creamy-white wings speckled with greyish scales and 3 or 4 obscure brownish cross-lines. Differs from similar species by absence of central black spots in both wings. The hindwing of S.floslactata (Cream Wave) should have a very small dark central spot, but this can be difficult to be sure of; it has more wavy, usually more distinct cross-lines and usually less dense browner speckling.
Male genitalia: The left appendage (ceratum) of the S8 ventral plate is much shorter than the right and does not reach the posterior margin of the plate. In S.floslactata the left appendage exceeds the plate in length and is only slightly shorter than the right appendage.
Female genitalia: Comparing images at Moth Dissection, in S.ternata the signum is a long streak of spicules extending most of the length of the bursa copulatrix; in S.floslactata is a more discrete circular patch of spicules
Male genitalia: The left appendage (ceratum) of the S8 ventral plate is much shorter than the right and does not reach the posterior margin of the plate. In S.floslactata the left appendage exceeds the plate in length and is only slightly shorter than the right appendage.
Female genitalia: Comparing images at Moth Dissection, in S.ternata the signum is a long streak of spicules extending most of the length of the bursa copulatrix; in S.floslactata is a more discrete circular patch of spicules
§1 Allt Mhuic, Argyll; 04/07/2011; female
§2 Glen Urquart, Inverness-shire; 17/07/2012; male
§3 Hawkridge, Somerset; 25/06/2016; male; fw 14.2mm; netted by day
§4 Mull; 21/06/2018; female; fw 10.9mm
§5 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 18/06/2022
§6 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 20/06/2022
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Glen Urquart, Inverness-shire; 17/07/2012; male
§3 Hawkridge, Somerset; 25/06/2016; male; fw 14.2mm; netted by day
§4 Mull; 21/06/2018; female; fw 10.9mm
§5 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 18/06/2022
§6 Kishorn, Ross & Cromarty; 20/06/2022
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 24/03/2013 (§1-2) | §3 added 20/01/2016 | §3 re-identified as S.floslactata (Cream Wave) and replaced with a new §3 and descriptions rewritten 08/04/2017 | §4 added 22/04/2019 | §5&6 added 11/12/2022
