Species Details

ABH: 73.293

BF: 2198

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Hadeninae

Taxon: Mythimna impura

=Mythimna impura f. scotica

=Mythimna impura impura

Authority: (Hübner, [1808])

Vernacular: Smoky Wainscot

Account: Common in grassland, woodland rides, gardens and sand-dunes throughout the British Isles. The main confusion species is Common Wainscot M. pallens, but differs from this species especially in the dusky grey underwing, which can be seen by gently lifting up the forewing with forceps. Larva feeds on various grasses, including Cock's-foot and Common Reed.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 31 — 38 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 18 May (1997) — 26 Sep (1992)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Gramineae, Luzula sp.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/mythimna-impura/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 1058

Individuals: 1651

Earliest Year: 1883

Latest Year: 2025

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