Frigid Wave Moth

A fairly uncommon widespread species; no concerns.

Alberta collections from mid June through the end of July.

Holarctic. In North America it occurs across the boreal forest region, from Alaska across the Territories and Nunavit to Newfoundland, and in the mountains south to southern Wisconsin, Alberta and BC. In Alberta it has been collected along the southern edge of the boreal forest and in the foothills and mountains, although it undoubtedly also occurs throughout the northern half of the province.

Frigidaria is one of the more poorly marked of the grey-brown Scopula species in Alberta. They are small (1.8-2.6 cm wingspan) light grey-brown moths, heavily dusted with darker brown scales. Markings are more or less confined to narrow poorly defined antemedian, median and somewhat better defined postmedian lines. The postmedian line bulges slightly outward midway across the hindwings. Discal dots are absent or nearly obsolete. The collar and frons are partially clothed with white scales, a character that will separate it from similar S. inductata. Male and female genitalia are described and illustrated by McGuffin (1967).

Mesic woodland, shrub edges and clearings.

Poorly known. Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single annual brood.

Scopula frigidaria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Heinrich Benno Möschler in 1869. It is found from Fennoscandia to the Kamchatka Peninsula and in northern North America, where it occurs across the boreal forest region, from Alaska across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to Newfoundland, and in the mountains south to southern Wisconsin, Alberta and British Columbia.

The wingspan is 21–23 millimetres (0.83–0.91 in). Adults are on wing from late May to June in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on Vaccinium myrtillus. Larvae can be found from July to May. It overwinters in the larval stage.