Erebidae : Arctiinae
Four-dotted Footman
CYBOSIA mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Four-dotted Footman
CYBOSIA mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
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 -
Habitat: Heathland : Moorland : Open woodland : Fens : Grassland
Similar Species -
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.
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
- Least Concern
- Phalaena mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Noctua eborina ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
- Not Specified
Habitat: Heathland : Moorland : Open woodland : Fens : Grassland
Similar Species -
- None
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
- Apiaceae - Umbelliferae - Umbellifer Family
- Scorzoneroides autumnalis - Autumn Hawkbit
- Peltigeraceae - Litchenised Fungi Family
- Peltigera canina - Dog Lichen
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - CYBOSIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Erebidae Arctiinae Lithosiini CYBOSIA Hübner [1819] Cybosia mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Noctua eborina ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - 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 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.535 - n.243 - Not Specified - 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 |