Species Details

ABH: 72.038

BF: 2040

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Arctiinae

Taxon: Cybosia mesomella

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Four-dotted Footman

Account: Local on heathland, moorland, damp grassland, fens and open woodland throughout the British Isles. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on lichens growing on various woody plants, including Heather and Sallow.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 29 — 34 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 1 Jun (2002) — 30 Jul (1978)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Algae, Lichenes.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cybosia-mesomella/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 343

Individuals: 270

Earliest Year: 1899

Latest Year: 2022

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