L-album Wainscot
Mythimna l-album
This record describes Mythimna l-album (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30 to 35 mm. One of the more distinctively-marked of the wainscots. Good quality photograph required to support your record. If possible please retain specimen until id is confirmed. The adults fly in two generations; in July and again in September and October. The overwintering caterpillars feed on a range of grasses. This species was originally restricted to the southern counties of England from Cornwall eastwards to Kent, but may now be slowly spreading northwards. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Mythimna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Damp places and coastal habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in two generations; in July and again in September and October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The overwintering caterpillars feed on a range of grasses.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species was originally restricted to the southern counties of England from Cornwall eastwards to Kent, but may now be slowly spreading northwards. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mythimna l-album. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of L-album Wainscot (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About L-album Wainscot
What is L-album Wainscot?
L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is L-album Wainscot found?
Habitat: Damp places and coastal habitats.
When is L-album Wainscot active?
L-album Wainscot: seasonal activity - The adults fly in two generations; in July and again in September and October..
What is the life cycle of a L-album Wainscot?
The overwintering caterpillars feed on a range of grasses.