Extremely common in a wide range of habitats, including gardens, hedgerows, woodland, heathland, calcareous grassland and fens throughout the British Isles, more numerous in the south. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 30-35 mm. Occurs in two distinct forms, the plain form
remutata often outnumbering the typical banded form. The main confusion species are the very much more uncommon
Plain Wave I. straminata and
Portland Ribbon Wave I. degeneraria, which see. Larva feeds on various herbaceous plants.