Species Details

ABH: 72.043

BF: 2049

Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Arctiinae

Taxon: Eilema depressa

Authority: (Esper, 1787)

Vernacular: Buff Footman

Account: Local in broad-leaved woodland, mixed woodland, scrubby downland, scrubby heathland and fens throughout much of southern England and Wales Distinctive once known, the relatively broad, plain wings give the species a characteristic appearance. The most likely confusion species is the pale straw-yellow form (ab. stramineola) of Dingy Footman E. griseola. Larva feeds on lichens growing on various deciduous and coniferous trees, including Oak, Birch, Hawthorn and Yew.

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: 28 — 36 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 7 Jun (1956) — 30 Oct (2014)

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

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 505

Individuals: 266

Earliest Year: 1864

Latest Year: 2025

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »