Striped Wainscot
Mythimna pudorina
This record describes Mythimna pudorina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Please provide a photograph and retain specimen determination by genitalia examination (gen. det.) may be required. This species inhabits marshland and damp heaths. The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light. The caterpillars are also striped, and feed on a number of different of grass and rushes. Locally distributed in England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
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
This species inhabits marshland and damp heaths.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars are also striped, and feed on a number of different of grass and rushes.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally distributed in 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 Mythimna pudorina. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Striped Wainscot
What is Striped Wainscot?
Striped Wainscot (Mythimna pudorina) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Striped Wainscot found?
Habitat: This species inhabits marshland and damp heaths.
When is Striped Wainscot active?
Striped Wainscot: seasonal activity - The adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Striped Wainscot?
The caterpillars are also striped, and feed on a number of different of grass and rushes.