Noctuidae

73.291 Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Mathew's Wainscot Mythimna pallens favicolor (Barrett, 1896)

Local

Similar species: Mathew's Wainscot ssp. favicolor is a saltmarsh form that has the forewing veins almost the same colour as the rest of the wing, rather than much lighter. Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura has a dark suffusion of scales following the main vein of the forewing from the base to the outer veins of the wing. It also has a grey upperside to the hindwing rather than white and a dark grey underside to the forewing rather than very pale grey.

Forewing: 14 to 17mm

Habitats: Grasslands, field margins, sand-dunes, salt-marsh, woodland rides, wasteground and gardens.

Habits: The moth feeds at the flowers of grasses, ragworts and other species. It is attracted to sugar and light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Cock's-foot, Annual Meadow-grass, Common Couch, Tufted Hair-grass and other grasses. It pupates in a flimsy cocoon just below the soil surface.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Wavy Hair-grass, Wood Small-reed, False Oat-grass, Lyme-grass and Reed Canary-grass.