About Idaea rusticata mustelata (Gumppenberg, 1892)
Idaea rusticata has a 19–21 mm wingspan, with forewings 9–11 mm in length. The edges of the wings are fringed. Its base body color is whitish or cream, sometimes with a very light brownish tone. On the upperside of the forewings, the midfield features a dark brown to red-brown transverse marking that includes a pointed black spot always located inside the dark field. This brown marking extends from the front edge to the rear edge of the forewing. The upperside of the hindwings is light grey, with darker grey transverse lines. The base of the anterior margin is darkened to brown. A black point is also present in the discal cell of the hindwings. The eggs of this species are oval and relatively small. The caterpillar is rather short, tapering toward its hind end, and has distinct constrictions. It is grey-brown or brown, with a narrow, light line along its back. The abdomen is brightly colored, and the small head is black. The pupa is light brown with a glossy surface. This species can be found across most of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. Starting from the Balkan Peninsula, its range extends across the Palearctic through Ukraine, southern Russia and Asia Minor to the Caucasus, and from there via northern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan to the Central Asian mountains, reaching as far east as Mongolia. Among all moths in Britain, Idaea rusticata showed the largest percentage increase in abundance between 1968 and 2007, and expanded its range beyond the area around London. These moths live in wastelands, open areas, parks, and well-exposed gardens.
