Abdominal Wainscot
Common NameAbdominal Wainscot
Scientific NameLeucania abdominalis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorslight brown, tan
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, open woodlands, wetlands
Geographic RangeEastern and Central North America
Host Plantsgrasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are cutworms that feed on various grasses, typically at night, and pupate in the soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its overall pale, straw-colored forewings with subtle longitudinal streaking; often requires examination of genitalia for definitive identification from similar *Leucania* species.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with pale, straw-colored to light brown forewings, featuring subtle darker streaks along the veins and sometimes a faint dark discal spot. The hindwings are uniformly paler.
