Common Wainscot

Common Wainscot
Common Wainscot
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Mythimna
Species: M. pallens
Binomial name
Mythimna pallens
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.

As with other "wainscots", this species has buffish-yellow forewings with prominent venation. The Common Wainscot, as the specific name suggests, is very pale, lacking the darker markings shown by most of its relatives. The hindwings are pure white. The wingspan is 32-40 mm. One or two broods are produced each year with adults on the wing at any time from June to October [1]. The moth flies at night and is attracted to light, sugar and various flowers.

The larva is brown with white lines along the back and darker lines along the sides. It feeds on various grasses including Deschampsia, Festuca, Leymus, Lolium and Phalaris. The species overwinters as a small larva.

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References

  • Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
  • Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984


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