Mythimna pudorina, the striped wainscot, is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm (Europe and all of Russia to Japan). Also Armenia, Asia Minor and eastern Siberia.

Striped wainscot
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Mythimna
Species:
M. pudorina
Binomial name
Mythimna pudorina

Technical description and variation

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The wingspan is 35–38 mm. Forewing flesh coloured ochreous densely dusted with grey atoms; the veins slightly paler; the upper half of cell and of submedian interval often paler without dusting, the streak in cell continued to margin; sometimes a darker streak in lower half of cell also continued to termen; hindwing dark grey, with pale fringe; -impudens Hbn. is a less marked grey form, without reddish tinge;- rufescens Tutt is a rare British form, bright rosy red, with pale grey dusting; striata Tutt darker, with the grey intervals blackish.[1] See also Hacker et al.[2]

 
Figs 2, 2a larva after last moult

Biology

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The moth flies from June to August depending on the location.

Larva dirty yellowish white; dorsal line white; subdorsal also white, edged above with black; 3 fine whitish lateral lines and a narrow grey stripe containing the black spiracles. The larvae feed on various grasses, such as purple moor grass, Phragmites and reed canary grass.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914
  2. ^ Hermann Hacker, László Ronkay & Márton Hreblay: Noctuidae Europaeae vol. 4 Hadeninae I. Entomological Press, Sorø 2002, ISBN 87-89430-07-7
  3. ^ "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS – A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London".
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