Drab Brown Wave Moth

If you squint, you can just about see the concentric lines on this moth’s wings which sort of resemble waves lapping at a sandy beach. Other “wave moths” have much more distinct waves-on-a-beach markings — it’s just my luck I found the only one that looks like cookies ‘n’ cream.

The drab brown wave moth (Lobocleta ossularia) is a medium-sized (15mm) moth with black speckles on a light gray or brown background, which can be found over most of the US (except far northern states). As a caterpillar, it eats chickweed, bedstraw, and beach strawberry. There are seven species in this genus in North America.

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