Obscure Wainscot
Leucania obsoleta
This record describes Leucania obsoleta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Occupying reedbeds, marshes and fenland. The adults fly from May to July, and are attracted to light. The dull, brownish caterpillars feed nocturnally on the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), hiding internally in the stems during the day. A rather local species, but with a scattered distribution in parts of England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Leucania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying reedbeds, marshes and fenland.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from May to July, and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The dull, brownish caterpillars feed nocturnally on the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), hiding internally in the stems during the day.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A rather local species, but with a scattered distribution in parts of England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucania obsoleta. 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 Obscure Wainscot (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Obscure Wainscot
What is Obscure Wainscot?
Obscure Wainscot (Leucania obsoleta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Obscure Wainscot found?
Habitat: Occupying reedbeds, marshes and fenland.
When is Obscure Wainscot active?
Obscure Wainscot: seasonal activity - The adults fly from May to July, and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Obscure Wainscot?
The dull, brownish caterpillars feed nocturnally on the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), hiding internally in the stems during the day.