The White-Point

Mythimna albipuncta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.
The White-Point
Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY

The White-Point moth has a wingspan of about 30 to 35 mm and forewings 14 to 17 mm long. Its forewings are rufous-brown with grey dusting and a distinctive white spot formed by the reniform stigma. It flies mainly in August and September, the larvae feed on various grasses and overwinter as caterpillars.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Forewings are rufous brown, dusted with greyer tones, and the reniform stigma creates a clear white spot at the lower end of the cell.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Wingspan ranges from 30 to 35 mm. Forewing length varies between 14 and 17 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Adults are most common in August and September, but can be seen from June to October.

Source: Wikipedia

What it eats

Larvae feed on a variety of grasses.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

The species overwinters as a caterpillar; larvae are dull reddish-grey with characteristic dorsal and subdorsal lines.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Flight period is mainly August-September in the British Isles; timing may differ elsewhere.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Found throughout Europe, with a subspecies in Tunisia, and also present in Asia Minor, Armenia, Iran, and the northeastern United States.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

Similar species include Mythimna conigera, Mythimna ferrago, and Mythimna unipuncta.

Source: Wikipedia

More photos

The White-Point photo 3
Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY
The White-Point photo 4
Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY
The White-Point photo 5
Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY
The White-Point photo 6
Photo: SteveM4560, CC BY

Questions people ask

How can I tell the White-Point moth apart from similar species?

Look for the rufous-brown forewing with grey dusting and the distinct white spot made by the reniform stigma; other species lack that exact combination.

Source: Wikipedia

When are White-Point moths active?

They are most active in August and September, though sightings can occur from June through October.

Source: Wikipedia

What do the caterpillars eat?

The larvae feed on various grasses.

Source: Wikipedia

Same family (Noctuidae)

Ipsilon Dart MothIpsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or cropsFall Armyworm MothFall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or cropsArmy Cutworm MothArmy Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or cropsLarge Yellow UnderwingLarge Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSilver ΥSilver ΥAutographa gammaAmerican DaggerAmerican DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skin

Sources

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythimna_albipuncta

Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia

Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.

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