Common Wainscot

The Common Wainscot is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 32-38mm. Its forewings are a pale straw colour, giving the moth a washed-out look. The forewings are fairly even in colour with faint darker lines and a small white spot near the middle. The hindwings are a pale greyish-white. When resting, the wings are held over the body like a roof, which is typical for this type of moth. This moth is common and often found in large numbers across England, Wales, and southern Scotland. It becomes less common further north. It lives in various grassy places such as meadows, roadsides, waste ground, and gardens. The adults are seen from June to September, with the most being around in July and August. The adult moths are strongly drawn to light and sweet substances, so they often come to moth traps. The caterpillars feed at night on different kinds of grasses. They bore into the stems close to the ground. This species can be mistaken for other pale wainscot moths but is usually the one you see most often.