The Cosmopolitan
Common NameThe Cosmopolitan
Scientific NameMythimna loreyi
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorstan, brown, grey
HabitatGrasslands, cultivated fields, coastal areas, open habitats
Geographic RangeWidespread in tropical and subtropical Old World (Africa, Asia, Australia, Southern Europe), migratory to temperate regions
Host Plantsgrasses, rice, maize, wheat
Flight PeriodContinuous in warm climates; migrants in temperate regions from spring to autumn
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various grasses and herbaceous plants, and pupate in the soil. It is a multivoltine species, producing multiple generations annually in warmer regions.
Identification TipsLook for the pale, straw-colored forewings with a prominent dark streak extending from the base and a small, often white, discal spot. The hindwings are typically plain whitish.
Description
This medium-sized moth has slender, pale tan to light brown forewings marked with a distinctive dark longitudinal streak and a small white discal spot. Its cryptic coloration provides camouflage against natural backgrounds.
