Noctuidae

73.145 Mere Wainscot Photedes fluxa (Hübner, [1809])

Notable B

Similar species: A variable, but obscurely marked species. Small Wainscot Denticucullus pygmina is on average smaller (10 to 14mm) with a narrower wing. It shows no signs of cross-lines apart from dots on the veins and the kidney mark and oval are absent or barely suggested.

Forewing: 12 to 15mm

Habitats: Open damp deciduous woodland, woodland rides and clearings, grassy woodland margins, marshes, fens, ditches, broads and reed-beds both inland and coastal.

Habits: The moth flies from dusk and visits sugar. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The part-grown larva overwinters, then feeds inside the lower part of a stem of Wood Small-reed. It pupates in a tough cocoon in the leaf litter.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Couch grass.