72.041 : 2051 : 10,485
Eribidae : Arctiinae

Four-spotted Footman

LITHOSIA quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: Male - 35-40mm Female 40-55mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe ( from England to the Balkans) to Japan
UK Distribution: Southern England & South West England,north to Isle of Man and Scottish Highlands,West Wales - local : South West Ireland - resident : Populations possibly increased by immigrants
UK Conservation Status -
  • Migrant
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Noctua) quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Lithosia
  • Phalaena quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Europe - Locality unknown
Flight Period: South - mid June to October : Elsewhere - July to September
Habitat: Mature broadleaved woodland
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The 35mm final instar larva is black and viewed from above has a yellowish white dorsal area with a series of fine black lateral lines and black marks at third,seventh and eleventh abdominal segments. The wart like structures called pinacula are orange.Tufts of long black hairs cover the larva. Viewed from the side there is a wavy yellowish white lateral line passing adjacent to the spiracles.
Pupa: Pupates in loose silken cocoon in a bark crevice
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: This moth is unmistakeable being considerably larger than any other of the "Footman" moths.The female only has the dots which give this moth its name and with wings overlapping its usual to only see three spots.In the f.confluens thes spots converge forming a black cross line.
The male has a black costal streak in the base area with a yellowish thorax and light grey forewing with the terminal area being darker grey.

The moth is resident Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, Pembrokeshire and south west Ireland with other records possibly being immigrants.

Although both sexes are attracted to light the male is recorded most often at the moth trap.
Photo Gallery
Larva
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note:- Larva feed on lichens growing on trunks and branches of oaks and other trees
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
  • Peltigeraceae - Litchenised Fungi Family 
    • Peltigera canina - Dog Lichen
Taxomony
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Type Species - LITHOSIA:

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Literary Ref:
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Forms:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Erebidae
Arctiinae
Lithosiini
LITHOSIA Fabricius,1798
Lithosia quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) quadra (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Phalaena flava Müller, 1764
= Phalaena deplana Linnaeus, 1771
= quadrata Walckenaer, 1802
= Oeonistis dives Butler, 1877
= fasciata Spuler, 1910
= insolata Dannehl, 1929
= pallida van Wisselingh, 1961
= triangularis Lempke, 1961
= Lithosia qadra
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.511 - n.84
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Europe - Locality unknown
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L.q.f.luteomarginata Lambillion, 1906 - Male distal area not darkened
L.q.f.seminigra Dufay, 1954 - Forewing suffused one third blackish grey
L.q.f.unipunctata Spuler, 1910 - Female - one black spot only on forewing
L.q.f.impunctata Spuler, 1910 - Female - no black spots
L.q.f.confluens Dumont, 1903 - spots join as cross line