Noctuidae : Hadeninae
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Common Wainscot
Mythimna pallens

(Linnaeus, 1758) 2199 / 73.291
Photo © Andy Nunn,  Cottingham VC 61

Immature stages

Similar Yorkshire Species
Smoky Wainscot
Mythimna impura
Southern Wainscot
Mythimna straminea
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Express Record Common Wainscot

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Yorkshire Status: Abundant and widespread resident.

Porritt labelled Common Wainscot as "abundant everywhere" and this is still the case. This is a common and widespread species across all of the county in good numbers, and can be seen in all grassy areas unless they have been "improved". From about 1994 a second brood has become more common and now in most years outnumbers the first. The broods overlap with peaks in July and September. It is possible to confuse it with Smoky Wainscot, and occasionally second brood moths have rather dark hindwings which can make identification harder. Late moths are usually Common Wainscot as Smoky Wainscot rarely has a second brood in Yorkshire. Numbers seem to fluctuate a lot from year to year, for example 1020 records in 2011 followed by 293 records in 2012. Counts can occasionally reach three figures, the maximum being 169 at Wheldrake on 6/9/2023.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: Widely distributed and usually common in all five vice-counties. However in one area of Rotherham numbers are reported to have fallen steadily since the mid 1940s and it is commented that the larvae and foodplants are similar to those of M. impura (Hubner) which has shown no signs of decreasing over the same period (Barringer & Ely, 1979).

Recorded in 165 (83%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1879.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

< Brown-line Bright-eye  |  Smoky Wainscot >
Forewing: 14-17mm
Flight: June - July and August - October
Foodplant:   Grasses
Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
31/10/2024161TA17 - Bempton
29/10/2024161SE94 - Middleton-on-the-Wolds
28/10/2024162SE38 - Leeming
26/10/2024161SE94 - Middleton-on-the-Wolds
25/10/2024164SE33 - Leeds
  Immature   Adult   [Show Flight Weeks]
Show Details | 1990 to 2024 | 2000 to 2024 | Graph Key
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