Wainscot Smudge
Common NameWainscot Smudge
Scientific NameDonacaula forficella
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySchoenobiinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, white, grey, black
HabitatWetlands, fens, marshes, wet meadows, reedbeds
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North America (Palearctic and Nearctic regions)
Host PlantsSedges (Carex spp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are stem borers, feeding internally within the stems of various wetland sedges, rushes, and grasses.
Identification TipsKey features include the prominent pointed snout, the streaked, cryptic forewing pattern resembling dried vegetation, and its typical presence in wetland environments.
Description
A small, slender moth with a distinctive pointed snout formed by its long labial palps, and forewings patterned with longitudinal brown, white, and black streaks, providing excellent camouflage.
