clouded magpie vs common white wave

Abraxas sylvata compared with Cabera pusaria

Key Differences

• clouded magpie is Vulnerable while common white wave is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	clouded magpie	common white wave
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family same	Geometridae	Geometridae
Genus	Abraxas	Cabera
Species	Abraxas sylvata	Cabera pusaria

Evolutionary Relationship

clouded magpie and common white wave share a common ancestor at the Family level: Geometridae.

Conservation Status

clouded magpie

VU — Vulnerable

common white wave

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	clouded magpie	common white wave
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

clouded magpie

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

common white wave

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

clouded magpie

The clouded magpie (Abraxas sylvata) is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae found across temperate Europe, extending eastward through Russia to Japan. The adult wingspan measures approximately 32–42 mm, with white wings bearing a distinctive pattern of yellow-orange and dark grey to black spots and patches arranged in rows across the forewing and hindwing, creating a striking patterned appearance resembling the magpie coloring of the related magpie moth Abraxas grossulariata, but with a more yellowish, muted tone and less black — hence 'clouded.' Adults fly in one generation from June to July, resting on leaf surfaces and attending woodland flowers for nectar. The larvae feed on wych elm (Ulmus glabra) and occasionally other Ulmus species in mature deciduous woodland and woodland edges. The clouded magpie has become less common in parts of its European range due to the widespread loss of mature elms from Dutch elm disease, which devastated European elm populations from the 1970s onward. Conservation of this species requires the protection of surviving mature elm trees and management of regrowth elms in woodland ecosystems.

common white wave

<em>Cabera pusaria</em>, commonly known as the common white wave, is a moth in the family Geometridae, distributed across temperate Europe with confirmed occurrences in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating stable populations with no significant conservation concerns at present. The species is closely associated with deciduous woodland habitats, particularly areas dominated by birch, alder, and poplar, which serve as primary larval host plants. Adults are white to pale gray with fine, darker wavy cross-lines on the wings, providing effective camouflage against pale bark and lichen-covered surfaces when at rest. <em>Cabera pusaria</em> is superficially similar to its congener <em>Cabera exanthemata</em>, the common wave, and the two species often occur together in the same woodland habitats. Adults typically fly in two generations per year, from late spring through early summer and again in late summer. The species is primarily nocturnal and is attracted to artificial light, making it a regular component of moth trap catches across its range. Biological traits including average adult lifespan, wingspan measurements, and body mass remain poorly documented in standardized databases. Ecologically, the common white wave participates in woodland food webs as a larval foliage feeder and as a prey item for insectivorous bats and birds throughout its temperate European distribution range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden