Species Details

ABH: 72.046

BF: 2047

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Arctiinae

Taxon: Eilema complana

=Eilema complana f. sericea

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Scarce Footman

Account: Local in heathland, moorland, woodland, gardens and sand-dunes throughout England and Wales; widespread and common in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 30-36 mm. Has been confused in the past with Common Footman E. lurideola, however wing-shape and posture of live specimens completely different; very similar to Hoary Footman E. caniola, which see. Virtually impossible to separate from Northern Footman E. sericea, now known only from Whixall Moss, Shropshire, and with which it is perhaps best treated as conspecific. Larva feeds on various lichens.

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: 30 — 36 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 12 Jun (2023) — 5 Sep (1986)

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

Foodplant: 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: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/eilema-complana/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 940

Individuals: 764

Earliest Year: 1867

Latest Year: 2025

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »