Two-lined Wainscot
Common NameTwo-lined Wainscot
Scientific NameMythimna obsoleta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorspale brown, dark brown, white
HabitatWetlands, fens, marshes, reedbeds, damp grasslands
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia, North Africa
Host PlantsPhragmites australis, various grasses
Flight PeriodMay to September (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are greenish-brown with darker lines, feeding nocturnally within the stems or on the leaves of reeds and other grasses. They pupate in a cocoon underground.
Identification TipsKey features for identification are the two distinct dark brown longitudinal stripes on the pale brown forewings, often with white veins running between them. The overall coloration is straw-like or pale ochre.
Description
A slender, pale brown moth with forewings distinctly marked by two prominent dark brown longitudinal stripes and fine white venation, creating a streaked appearance. The hindwings are a plain greyish-white.
