Common Dotted Wainscot
Common NameCommon Dotted Wainscot
Scientific NameMythimna obsoleta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Primary Colorspale brown, straw, tan
HabitatReedbeds, fens, marshes, wetlands
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPhragmites australis
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed within the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), pupating in a cocoon underground or at the base of the food plant. It is univoltine, with adults flying in summer.
Identification TipsLook for the pale straw-yellow coloration, the distinctive row of small black dots on the forewings, and the faint darker streaks. Its association with reedbeds is also a strong indicator.
Description
A slender, pale straw-yellow moth with long antennae, characterized by a row of small black dots along the subterminal line of its forewings and subtle darker longitudinal streaks.
