Lesser Cream Wave       Cream Wave
70.026 BF1694  –  Geometridae –  Sterrhinae – Scopula ternata – Smoky Wave – Schrank, 1802 Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Geometridae  >> Sterrhinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: This Scopula species doesn’t show any black spots in the wings, only a powdery speckling. The wavy crosslines vary in intensity of colour.
Distribution:  (Last record: 21 July 2024 at Glossop )  –  Fairly common locally on the upland areas of north Derbyshire
Flight Period: June /  July /  –  On the wing – June – July. One generation can be disturbed by day Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Graham Finch  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 20-29mm
Forewing: 12-15mm Food Plant: Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Heather (Calluna).
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop
Selected Images:  Matlock 23 June 2006 Graham Finch ©

70.026 BF1694 - Smoky Wave - Geometridae - Scopula ternata
Scopula ternata
70.026 BF1694 - Smoky Wave - Geometridae - Scopula ternata

 
 

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Distribution Map for Scopula ternata

Found 90 records
    ↳ 1 from After 2025
    ↳ 13 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 76 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Scopula ternata

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Scopula ternata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Scopula ternata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Scopula ternata
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Scopula ternata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Scopula ternata
AGR: -8.75%   |   Total % Change: -88.9%


CUSUM Analysis: Scopula ternata
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 9 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.

ⓘ Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2002, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2025, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Scopula ternata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Scopula ternata
( data includes Adult Stage only )

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Scopula ternata – 90 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Lightwood Reserve, BuxtonSK07M18/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar Clough Woodland southeastSK09U07/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chunal Moor near Harry HutSK09K08/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Northwest of TwitchlingsSK09L21/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Burbage MoorSK28Q25/06/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F28/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Reeve Edge QuarriesSK06E17/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Bray CloughSK09K02/06/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S18/06/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft AveSK07S20/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, England, United KingdomSK07S03/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Priestcliffe LeesSK17L08/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F19/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F26/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lightwood, BuxtonSK07M14/06/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, England, United KingdomSK07M05/06/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R09/08/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R09/08/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wragg's Quarry, Beeley MoorSK26Y15/07/20134Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y15/07/20134Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Triangle,Beeley MoorSK26Y04/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Triangle, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y04/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hellbank Plantation, Matlock (at stile in car pull-in)SK26Z02/06/20114Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Upper Moor,MatlockSK36C02/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Uppermoor, MatlockSK36C02/06/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Froggatt Edge,FroggattSK27N31/05/20116Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q23/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q12/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q30/06/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q22/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q23/07/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Moor (Triangle)SK26Z05/06/20067Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y17/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y17/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Blacka MoorSK28V06/07/20031Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Blacka Moor, Dore, SheffieldSK28V06/06/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Blacka Moor, Dore, SheffieldSK28V06/06/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Forest, MatlockSK36G01/07/20025Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Forest, MatlockSK36G01/07/20025Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Forest, MatlockSK36G29/06/20019Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ramsley Moor (nr track to pumping station), BaslowSK27Y29/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, BuxtonSK07V25/06/19936Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, BuxtonSK07V25/06/19936Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ramsley Moor (nr track to pumping station), BaslowSK27Y29/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Moor Edge, Birch ValeSK08I29/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matley Moor, RowarthSK09F07/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G07/06/19923Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G07/06/19925Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Torside, LongdendaleSK09U07/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ashop Clough, nr GlossopSK09V28/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ashop Clough, nr GlossopSK09V28/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Moor Edge, Birch ValeSK08I29/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matley Moor, RowarthSK09F07/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G07/06/19923Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G07/06/19925Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Torside, LongdendaleSK09U07/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shaw Moor Plantation, GlossopSK09F27/06/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shaw Moor Plantation, GlossopSK09F27/06/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
CharlesworthSK09B13/04/19911Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
CharlesworthSK09B13/04/19911Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Middle Moor, Kinder, HayfieldSK08P26/06/19905Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G16/06/19904Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F16/06/19902Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F16/06/199020Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whiteley Nab, GlossopSK09G16/06/19904Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F16/06/19902Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F16/06/199020Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Middle Moor, Kinder, HayfieldSK08P26/06/19905Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kinder Bank,HayfieldSK08N25/05/19908Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kinder Bank,HayfieldSK08N25/05/19902Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
White Brow, Kinder, HayfieldSK08P26/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F18/06/19894Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Moor,MatlockSK36G13/06/19894Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Moor,MatlockSK36G13/06/19894Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chunnal Moor, GlossopSK09F18/06/19894Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Forest, MatlockSK36B16/04/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Moor,MatlockSK36G04/07/19876Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hopton Wood NR, CromfordSK25T11/07/19876Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Moor,MatlockSK36G04/07/19876Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hopton Wood NR, CromfordSK25T11/07/19876Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock Forest, Matlock (site not precise)SK36G05/06/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A12/06/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A14/06/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z09/05/19751Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z26/05/19741Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hollingworth Clough, Hayfield (site not precise)SK08P12/07/19641Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hollingworth Clough, Hayfield (site not precise)SK08P16/06/19645Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hollingworth Clough, Hayfield (site not precise)SK08P20/06/19641Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Gladwin's Mark, Beeley MoorSK36D20/08/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Lesser Cream Wave       Cream Wave

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