Smoky Wainscot
Mythimna impura
This record describes Mythimna impura (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 31-38 mm. Named after the dusky or smoky suffusion on the hindwing. Downland, sand dunes and rough grassy areas. It flies from June to August, sometimes later in the south as a partial second brood. The larval foodplants are mainly grasses. This is a fairly common species over most of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
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
Downland, sand dunes and rough grassy areas.
Seasonal Activity
It flies from June to August, sometimes later in the south as a partial second brood.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplants are mainly grasses.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is a fairly common species over most of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mythimna impura. 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 Smoky Wainscot (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Smoky Wainscot
What is Smoky Wainscot?
Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Smoky Wainscot found?
Habitat: Downland, sand dunes and rough grassy areas.
When is Smoky Wainscot active?
Smoky Wainscot: seasonal activity - It flies from June to August, sometimes later in the south as a partial second brood..
What is the life cycle of a Smoky Wainscot?
The larval foodplants are mainly grasses.