73.291 : 2199 : 10,007
Noctuidae : Hadeninae

Common Wainscot

MYTHIMNA (Mythimna) pallens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 30-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Russia
UK Distribution: Southern Britain-Common and abundant northwards to Southern Scotland : Scotland including Shetland Isles-local elsewhere : Ireland,Isle of Man,Channel isles-Widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Noctua) pallens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Mythimna
  • Phalaena turca (Linnaeus, 1761)
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: Southern Britain-June to July + August to October-two generations : Midlands, northwards-July to August-one generation
Habitat: Grassland habitats : Gardens : Open woodland etc
Similar Speciesv -
  • Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura (Hübner, [1808])
  • Mathew's Wainscot Mythimna favicolor (Barrett, 1896)
Larva: For larva description read Smoky Wainscot-the lateral line are virtually as described with the side view lateral band being olive brown,as are the edging lines viewed from above with the background colour being light brown/straw.
Larva-south-June to August + September to May : north-June to August
Overwinters as: Small larva
Observations: It should be noted that when comparing the Common Wainscot M. pallens with its similar species Mathew's Wainscot  M. favicolor that the latter is only found in saltmarshes in Hampshire to Suffolk.

The Common Wainscot M. pallens has paler wings and lacks the grey dusting on the forewing when compared with the Smoky Wainscot and the hindwing is whiter with grey dusting.

The moth is a regular at the light trap often appearing in large numbers,is attracted to sugar and also feeds on flowers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants
Common Wainscot larvae feed on plant families described below plant photos.
The Common Wainscot larvae also feed on the following list of hostplants :-
Gramineae
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - MYTHIMNA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Hadeninae
Leucaniini
MYTHIMNA Ochsenheimer, 1816
mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816
Mythimna (Mythimna) pallens (Linnaeus,1758)
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Phalaena turca (Linnaeus, 1761)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) 
= Noctua ectypa Hübner, 1803
= Noctua rufescens Haworth, 1809
= Leucania arcuata Stephens, 1829
= Leucania ochracea Stephens, 1829
= Leucania suffusa Stephens, 1829
= Aletia pallens
= Mythimna (Mythimna) pallens.
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MYTHIMNA Ochsenheimer, 1816
= Aletia Hübner 1821
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.510 - n.77
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Europe