Smoky Wainscot vs Common Rustic

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Smoky Wainscot	Common Rustic
Scientific Name	Mythimna impura	Mesapamea secalis
Order	Lepidoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Noctuidae	Noctuidae
Size	28-34 mm wingspan	26-34 mm wingspan
Habitat	Grasslands	Farmland
Diet	Herbivores	Herbivores
Regions	Europe	Europe
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Smoky Wainscot

A dull brownish wainscot moth extremely common in grasslands. Larvae feed on various grass species. Often confused with the similar Common Wainscot.

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Did You Know?

So similar to the Common Wainscot that reliable identification often requires examination of genitalia.

Common Rustic

A highly variable common moth that forms a species complex with the Lesser Common Rustic. External appearance is unreliable for identification. Larvae feed inside grass stems.

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Did You Know?

So similar to its sibling species that they were not recognized as separate species until 1983.