Species Details

ABH: 73.301

BF: 2205

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Hadeninae

Taxon: Leucania comma

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1761)

Vernacular: Shoulder-striped Wainscot

Account: Common in fens, marshes, grassland, gardens and damp woodland throughout the British Isles, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Widespread and still moderately common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 35-42 mm. The long, thick, black streak from base to centre of wing, white costal streak, and prominent, white, finger-like veins reaching from centre of wing to termen are diagnostic. Larva feeds on various grasses, especially Cock's-foot, over-wintering in a cocoon.

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: 35 — 42 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 20 May (2004) — 17 Aug (2007)

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

Foodplant:

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/leucania-comma/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 567

Individuals: 265

Earliest Year: 1900

Latest Year: 2024

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