Small Dusty Wave vs Gershner's Jumping Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Dusty Wave Gershner's Jumping Bristletail
Scientific Name Idaea seriata Pedetontus gershneri
Order Lepidoptera Archaeognatha
Family Geometridae Machilidae
Size 16-20 mm wingspan 8-10 mm
Habitat Indoors Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Europe United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Dusty Wave

A tiny pale moth with subtle wavy cross-lines. Commonly found inside buildings where larvae feed on dried organic matter. One of the few moths adapted to indoor living.

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Did You Know?

One of the few moth species that has adapted to complete its life cycle entirely inside buildings.

Gershner's Jumping Bristletail

A North American jumping bristletail found in leaf litter and under bark. It has a distinctly humped thorax and long tail filaments.

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Did You Know?

Like all Archaeognatha, it molts throughout its entire adult life.