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Riband Wave There are two forms of Riband Wave which are both common. One has the dark band which gives the moth its name and the other form (f.remutata) where this band is plain.

It is only f.remutata which is likely to be confused with other species.  Possible confusion species are the Common Wave, Common White Wave and Cream Wave (below). See also Plain Wave which is very similar to f.remutata but is not at all common (See Hantsmoths).

Black dot on the forewing is outside the second cross-line.
(Compare Small fan-footed Wave)

In Common White Wave the cross-lines are grey and the outer cross-line is almost straight.

Wave moths - Ennominae and Sterrhinae

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Riband Wave                                                                                Riband Wave ( f. remutata )

Outer cross-line of Riband Wave has a kink just before the leading edge of the forewing.

Cream Wave                                                                               

Common Wave                                                                       Common White Wave

In Common Wave the cross-lines are brown and the outer cross-line on the forewing is curved outwards.

The family Sterrinhae  includes a large number of ‘wave’ moths. Only the common ones are shown here.

Size matters - try to measure the forewing length along the leading edge.
1. Wing length about 15mm Riband Wave Common Wave, Common White Wave and Cream Wave.
2. Wing length about 10mm Small fan-footed wave, Single dotted wave, Treble Brown spot, Dwarf Cream wave,
                                         Small dusty wave.

1. Wing length about 15mm

In Cream Wave the outer cross-line on the forewing zig-zags

Cream Wave often has a black dot near the centre of the hindwing .

The black dot on the hindwing is sometimes small or absent

2. Wing length about 10mm

Single-Dotted Wave

Small fan-footed Wave

Treble Brown Spot - (Note: Treble Brown Spot is only common in Southern England)

Black mark where the outer cross-line meets the leading edge of forewing.

Black blotches in the outer cross-band only in the half of the forewing near the trailing edge

Light blotches all the way round the outer cross-band

Dark brown blotches in the outer cross-band in the half of the forewing near the trailing edge and in the outer cross-band near the leading edge.

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Dwarf Cream Wave

Small Dusty Wave

Dusty appearance due to black speckling.

Line of dashes at the outer edge of the wings; occasional black dots in the fringe.

Leading edge of the wing dark - especially near the base of the wing.

Note : There is also a less common species Lesser Cream Wave, similar to Cream Wave but slightly smaller and the leading edge of its forewing is far less curved near the wing tip (See Hantsmoths).