Smoky Wave       Blood-vein
70.027 BF1693  –  Geometridae –  Sterrhinae – Scopula floslactata – Cream Wave – (Haworth, 1809) 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.
Confusion Species:  Lesser Cream Wave, Smoky Wave
ID pointers: Can show central black dots in the wings, but usually absent in forewing and tiny in the hind wing. Similar to Lesser Cream Wave which is smaller with less pointed and rounded wings.
Distribution:  (Last record: 16 June 2025 at Belper )  –  Generally scarce and locally distributed in the county at a few locations in the Trent Valley, Derwent Valley and Coal measures. Presumed absent from the northern uplands.
Flight Period: May /  June /  August /  –  On the wing – May-June one generation Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Stephen Plant; Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 29-33mm
Forewing: 13-16mm Food Plant: Bedstrwas, Woodruff, Bush Vetch
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images:  25th July 2021 – Allestree – Stephen Plant / Belper (2025) Dave Evans©

Cream Wave - Stephen Plant
Cream Wave – Stephen Plant
Cream Wave - 16th June 2025 - Belper - Dave Evans
Cream Wave – 16th June 2025 – Belper – Dave Evans
Cream Wave - Stephen Plant
Cream Wave - 16th June 2025 - Belper - Dave Evans


Image Gallery

Cream Wave - 16th June 2025 - Belper - Dave Evans Cream Wave - 25th July 2021 - Allestree - Stephen Plant

 

Distribution Map for Scopula floslactata

Found 61 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 2 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 59 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 floslactata

⚠️ 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 floslactata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Scopula floslactata
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 floslactata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Scopula floslactata
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%


CUSUM Analysis: Scopula floslactata
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 13 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 2006, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2005, 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 floslactata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Scopula floslactata
( 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 floslactata – 61 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Sheepbridge, ChesterfieldSK37S18/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Allestree, DerbySK33P25/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
gardenSK32R29/07/20161adultvc57_irecords_extract
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T10/08/20151Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T30/06/20151Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Pleasley Pit CP, PleasleySK56C24/05/20151Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Not givenSK35Z05/07/20141Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Millers DaleSK17G02/07/20141adultvc57_irecords_extract
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T01/06/20141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B21/05/20141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L25/06/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase,AmbergateSK35L01/05/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longcliffe (High Peak Quarry)SK25H21/08/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Calke Park,TicknallSK32L02/06/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q23/07/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q22/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Resr (Rangers' Base)SK25K26/07/20066Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Resr (Rangers' Base)SK25K27/07/20062Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ash Brook,Ashley Close,TansleySK35J12/07/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Resr (Rangers' Base)SK25K27/07/20062Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase,AmbergateSK35L18/06/20063Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ravenstor YHA,TideswellSK17L17/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V09/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase,AmbergateSK35L03/05/200615Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Resr (Rangers' Base)SK25K09/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whitwell Wood,Whitwell,WorksopSK57J29/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Resr (Rangers' Base)SK25K09/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ticknall Limeyards,TicknallSK32R20/06/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ticknall Limeyards,TicknallSK32R20/06/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ticknall Limeyards,TicknallSK32R14/06/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Manor House Rd, Long EatonSK43W08/07/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le FrithSK07P05/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le FrithSK07P05/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le FrithSK07P01/07/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le FrithSK07P01/07/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Parkway, New MillsSK08D06/07/19871Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Brierly Wood, UnstoneSK37S28/06/19871Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Pond House, Mapperley Res, IlkestonSK44G29/08/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Pond House, Mapperley Res, IlkestonSK44G29/08/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Skinner St, Creswell, WorksopSK57H01/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise)SK35L20/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise)SK35L28/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise)SK35L20/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Field Studies Building, Drakelow Nature TrailSK21J05/07/19775Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood, TicknallSK32S14/05/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Robin Wood, TicknallSK32S17/05/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay Cross (assumed at his home)SK36W23/06/19581Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37R01/01/19441Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37R01/01/19441Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/06/19304Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/06/19304Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B22/05/19211Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B22/05/19211Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Darley Dale (site not precise)SK26R01/06/19181Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B21/05/19141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/19053Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/19003Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Smoky Wave       Blood-vein

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