72.038 : 2040 : 10,477
Erebidae : Arctiinae

Four-dotted Footman

CYBOSIA mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 29-34mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Asia Minor : Siberia : Crimea : Caucasus :S.Siberia - Tobolsk - Baikal : Mongolia
UK Distribution: Local throughout the British Isles : Channel Isles-rare : Isle of man-rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Local = 101 - 300-10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name-
  • Phalaena mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Cybosia
  • Noctua eborina ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: South-End May to end August : Eslewhere-mid June to early August
Habitat: Heathland : Moorland : Open woodland : Fens : Grassland
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The larva is black with stiff hairs around every abdominal segment making this larva look like the end of a sink plug hole cleaning brush.Larva-August to May.
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon iamong plant debris
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The moth is white with stronger yellow thin costal and terminal streaks.As the name suggests there are four black dots at costa and dorsum which, when settled, only show three as wings fold and hide the remaining dot.

The moth is easily disturbed from rest during the day and flies from dusk.
It is a regular visitor to the light trap where it can be seen in reasonable numbers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Taxonomy
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Type Species - CYBOSIA:

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Forms/Aberrations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Erebidae
Arctiinae
Lithosiini
CYBOSIA Hübner [1819]
Cybosia mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Noctua eborina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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PHALAENA mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Phalaena quatrilis Geoffroy, 1785
= Noctua eborea Esper, 1787
= Lithosia lutarella Haworth, 1809
= Cybosia mesomella eremella Vorbrodt, 1914
= mesomellula Strand, 1922
= albida Catherine, 1922
= obscura Lempke, 1961
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.535 - n.243
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Not Specified
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C.m.f.flava Preissecker, 1909-Wings and body yellow
C.m.f.obscura Lempke, 1961-Dark grey with yellow margin
C.m.f.cremella Krulikovsky, 1908-Ground colour whiter,spots missing