Fen Wainscot
Common NameFen Wainscot
Scientific NameMythimna obsoleta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorspale yellow, orange-brown
HabitatFens, marshes, wet grasslands, reedbeds
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPhragmites australis (common reed)
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed inside the stems of common reed. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in spring within the reed stems or in the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its plain, pale yellowish-ochre forewings, often with a faint reddish-brown flush, and the lack of prominent markings. It is typically found in reedbed habitats.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with pale yellowish-ochre forewings, often with a subtle orange-brown tint towards the termen, and plain white hindwings.
