Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: June 4, 2024, 3:15 p.m.
A common species throughout Belgium.
A local form occurs on the seacoasts of northwestern Europe, sometimes treated as a species "Mythimna favicolor". The species status is very controversial (including no difference in DNA at all). We believe that this is a form of Mythimna pallens.
This species is considered Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Noctuidae > Subfamily: Hadeninae > Tribus: Hadenini > Genus: Mythimna > Subgenus: Mythimna > Species: Mythimna pallens
- Vernacular names
- Bleke grasuil (NL), Common Wainscot (EN), La Leucanie blafarde (FR), Bleiche Graseule (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 12 (as Leucania pallens L.). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 30–35 mm.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
Hibernates as a small larva low down in the vegetation.
The adults come to light and sugar.
Flight periods
The adults fly in two generations a year from mid-May till mid October.
Individuals of the second generation are most numerous.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Deschampsia cespitosa and Dactylis glomerata
- Substrates:
- Grasses
The larva lives on various species of Gramineae like Deschampsia cespitosa or Dactylis glomerata.
