Southern Wainscot
Common NameSouthern Wainscot
Scientific NameMythimna straminea
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorspale yellow, brown, white
HabitatWetlands, fens, marshes, damp meadows, riverbanks, reedbeds
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia (e.g., Siberia, Japan)
Host PlantsPhragmites australis, Glyceria, Typha, Carex
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are pale brown with darker dorsal and spiracular lines, feeding nocturnally on grasses. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a cocoon underground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its pale straw colour and the prominent dark streaks along the forewing veins, especially the central and hind margin streaks. The plain white hindwings are also a key feature.
Description
A pale, straw-coloured moth with distinctive dark longitudinal streaks along the veins of the forewings. The hindwings are plain white.
