Waved Umber
Menophra abruptaria
To perfect its camouflage, the Waved Umber rests with its wings spread flat, aligning the dark, wavy bands on its wings to match the natural grain of the tree bark.
- Scientific name
- Menophra abruptaria
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Geometridae › Menophra
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, suburban gardens, parks, and hedgerows.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on woody plants like privet, lilac, and ash; adults drink nectar from night-blooming flowers.
- Range
- Europe, North Africa, Middle East
- Size
- Wingspan of 36-42 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 year (mostly spent as larva and pupa; adults live 2-3 weeks)
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, light pollution disrupting mating behaviors, and domestic pesticide use in gardens.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless and safe to observe. This moth is delicate and non-venomous. If one enters your home, gently trap it under a glass with a piece of paper and release it outside near trees or bushes at night.
Menophra abruptaria , the waved umber , is a moth of the Geometridae family. It is found in south-western North Africa, southern Europe and Anatolia, in the north, it is found from England to Switzerland and south-western Germany.
Photo: Drepanostoma, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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