About Scopula rubiginata ochraceata (Staudinger, 1901)
Scopula rubiginata has a wingspan of 16–22 mm. These moths are rather small compared to other geometrids, and they show quite high variability in their basic body color and wing markings. The basic wing color depends on humidity, so wings may be tawny, pale brown, violet-reddish, greyish, or straw-coloured. The upper sides of the wings have darker brown or darker reddish, transverse, slightly wavy markings that give the species its common name. The inner transverse line is absent on the hindwings, and similar markings appear on the undersides of the wings. The apex of the forewings is rounded, the hindwing margin is uniform and almost round, and the fringes are paler than the basic wing color.
The eggs of this species are approximately cylindrical, with a surface covered in 16 distinct longitudinal ribs. The caterpillars are relatively slender, and thicken slightly toward the rear end. Their body color is variable, ranging from yellowish, brownish, and slightly reddish to gray. The ventral side is greenish, and the back has a relatively thin line that is darker than the basic body color. The head is relatively small, roundish, and slightly reddish. The pupa is brown and has fine bristles. This species is quite similar to Idaea ochrata, but Idaea ochrata has a dented hindwing margin.
In terms of distribution and habitat, this species occurs from the Iberian Peninsula east to the Ural. To the north, its range extends to Denmark, southern Sweden, and southern Finland. It is absent from most of the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula (except Gibraltar), Sicily, and the southern Greek islands. In Morocco, it is found in the Atlas mountains. It also occurs in northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and the Crimea. Eastward, its range extends through southern Siberia and the northern central Asian mountains all the way to Mongolia. These moths preferentially live in sandy terrain such as sand dunes, in dry-warm environments including grasslands and heath, at elevations up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level.
