Twin-spotted Wainscot
Lenisa geminipuncta
This record describes Lenisa geminipuncta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27 to 32 mm. The forewing is quite broad and blunt. The shade of brown in the ground colour is variable and the kidney mark is often divided into twin spots. This is a species that favours reed beds where the larval foodplant is found i.e. Common Reed (Phragmites australis). It flies in August and September and can be attracted in small numbers to light. The caterpillar feeds in the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis). Its stronghold is in southern England and south Wales where it can be fairly common but it is very local elsewhere. 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
- Lenisa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This is a species that favours reed beds where the larval foodplant is found i.e. Common Reed (Phragmites australis).
Seasonal Activity
It flies in August and September and can be attracted in small numbers to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillar feeds in the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis).
Additional species information
Recorded status
Its stronghold is in southern England and south Wales where it can be fairly common but it is very local elsewhere. 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 Lenisa geminipuncta. 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 Twin-spotted Wainscot (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Twin-spotted Wainscot
What is Twin-spotted Wainscot?
Twin-spotted Wainscot (Lenisa geminipuncta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Twin-spotted Wainscot found?
Habitat: This is a species that favours reed beds where the larval foodplant is found i.e. Common Reed (Phragmites australis).
When is Twin-spotted Wainscot active?
Twin-spotted Wainscot: seasonal activity - It flies in August and September and can be attracted in small numbers to light..
What is the life cycle of a Twin-spotted Wainscot?
The caterpillar feeds in the stems of Common Reed (Phragmites australis).