Eribidae : Arctiinae
Orange Footman
EILEMA sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766)
Orange Footman
EILEMA sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 27-30mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe (northern Iberian Peninsula to south Scandinavia and Finland to Sicily & Greece) to China
UK Distribution: Suspected immigrant : Local - Found mostly from South-west to central & South East England,Isle of Wight & South Wales. East Anglia & Lincolnshire - very local,suspected immigrants.Chanel Isles - Jersey -widespread and frequent, Guernsey - rare
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland with mature Oak & Beech : Blackthorn Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a thin grey cocoon
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The shape of the orange forewing readily identifies this moth with a straight line at the costa for two thirds, before strongly curving towards the wing apex.
The wing has light venation although worn individuals are usually paler.
The yellow forms of the similar species Dingy & Buff Footman are larger than this moth and the costa is more evenly curved.
The moth which flies from dusk is attracted to light and can be found at the moth trap in fairly large numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe (northern Iberian Peninsula to south Scandinavia and Finland to Sicily & Greece) to China
UK Distribution: Suspected immigrant : Local - Found mostly from South-west to central & South East England,Isle of Wight & South Wales. East Anglia & Lincolnshire - very local,suspected immigrants.Chanel Isles - Jersey -widespread and frequent, Guernsey - rare
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena sororcula (Hufnagle, 1766)
- Bombyx caniola Hübner, 1808
- Not Specified
Habitat: Woodland with mature Oak & Beech : Blackthorn Scrub
Similar Species -
- Dingy Footman - Eilema griseola (Hübner, 1803)
- Buff Footman - Eilema depressa (Esper, 1787)
Pupa: Pupates in a thin grey cocoon
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The shape of the orange forewing readily identifies this moth with a straight line at the costa for two thirds, before strongly curving towards the wing apex.
The wing has light venation although worn individuals are usually paler.
The yellow forms of the similar species Dingy & Buff Footman are larger than this moth and the costa is more evenly curved.
The moth which flies from dusk is attracted to light and can be found at the moth trap in fairly large numbers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Larvae feed on lichen growing on a wide variety of trees
Larvae feed on lichen growing on a wide variety of trees
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - EILEMA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Genus Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Erebidae Arctiinae Lithosiini EILEMA Hübner, [1819] Eilema sororcula (Hufnagel, 1766) - Bombyx caniola Hübner, 1808 - PHALAENA sororcula (Hufnagle, 1766) = crocella Geoffroy, 1785 = Noctua unita Esper, 1787 = crocinella de Villers, 1789 = Bombyx aureola Hübner, [1803] = aurantia Haworth, 1809 = flava Lempke, 1938 = Ilema sororcula - EILEMA Hübner, [1819] = Zobida Birket-Smith 1965 - Berlin. Magazin. 3 (4): Title Page : p. 398 - n.72 - Not Specified - E.s.f.plumbea Rebel, 1912 - slightly duller - lighter fringe |