Erebidae : Arctiinae
Common Footman
EILEMA lurideola (Zincken, 1817)
Common Footman
EILEMA lurideola (Zincken, 1817)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 31-38mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Asia minor : Caucasus : Transcaucasia : S.Siberia - Tobolsk - Baikal : Mongolia : China
UK Distribution: England and Wales-well distributed and frequent : Isle of Man-rare : Scotalnd and Ireland-local : Channel Isles-widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Gardens : Woodland : Farmland : Coastal habitats
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon in a crevice
Overwinters as: Small larva
Observations: The similar species Dingy Footman E.lurideola had broader forewings and the costal/terminal is thinner,pale and almost non-existent.
This moth is the most common of the Footman moths occurring in good numbers in the south but less so further north.
Much like the grass moths the "Footman" seem much larger when in flight.
The moth is a frequent visitor to the light trap where it can occur in quite large numbers, and is also attracted to sugar and feeds on flowers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Asia minor : Caucasus : Transcaucasia : S.Siberia - Tobolsk - Baikal : Mongolia : China
UK Distribution: England and Wales-well distributed and frequent : Isle of Man-rare : Scotalnd and Ireland-local : Channel Isles-widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Lithosia lurideola Zincken, 1817
- Bombyx caniola Hübner, 1808
- Not Specified
Habitat: Gardens : Woodland : Farmland : Coastal habitats
Similar Species -
- Dingy Footman Eilema lurideola Zincken, 1817
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon in a crevice
Overwinters as: Small larva
Observations: The similar species Dingy Footman E.lurideola had broader forewings and the costal/terminal is thinner,pale and almost non-existent.
This moth is the most common of the Footman moths occurring in good numbers in the south but less so further north.
Much like the grass moths the "Footman" seem much larger when in flight.
The moth is a frequent visitor to the light trap where it can occur in quite large numbers, and is also attracted to sugar and feeds on flowers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Common Footman larvae feed on plant families described below plant photos
:
Common Footman larvae feed on plant families described below plant photos
:
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.
- Parmeliaceae - Lichenized Fungi Family
- Parmelia saxatilis - Shield Lichen
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup - Crowfoot Family
- Clamatis vitalba - Traveller's Joy (Larva accepts)
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe - (Larva accepts)
- Rubus fruticosus - Bramble - Blackberry (larva accepts)
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Fagaceae - Quercus - Oaks
- Rhamnaceae - Rhamnus - Elms
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - EILEMA: Species Names: Original Species Name: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Erebidae Arctiinae Lithosiini EILEMA Hübner, [1819] Eilema lurideola (Zincken, 1817) - Bombyx caniola Hübner, 1808 - Eilema lurideolum Zincken, 1817 = LITHOSIA lurideola (Zincken, 1817) = Lithosia complanula Boisduval, 1834 = pallida van Wisselingh, 1961 = Ilema lurideola Hering, 1936 - Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung 1817 (3): (214) 41-48, (215) 49-56, (216) 57-60, (217) 63-70, (218) 73-80. Halle und Leipzig - Not Specified |