Lesser Wainscot
Common NameLesser Wainscot
Scientific NameMythimna obsoleta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale yellow, light brown
HabitatWetlands, fens, marshes, reedbeds
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsCommon Reed
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on reeds, particularly Common Reed, and overwinter as larvae before pupating in a cocoon at the base of the food plant.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its uniform pale, straw-yellow coloration, the prominent row of black dots on the forewing termen, and its strong association with reedbed habitats.
Description
A pale, straw-yellow or light brown moth with slender antennae, a furry body, and a distinctive row of small black dots along the outer margin of its forewings.
