Friday 17 May
Speckled footman moth (Coscinia cribraria bivittata)
Speckled footman moth fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Speckled footman moth description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Arctiidae |
| Genus | Coscinia |
This species of moth is very variable in the colouration and markings of the upper, or forewings. They can range from pale grey and white to dark brown striations and blotches, and can be mistaken for the thistle ermine moth Myelois cribrella.
- Size
- Wingspan: 30 – 40 mm
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Related species
Speckled footman moth biology
The moths emerge in July and are on the wing throughout the next two months. They favour a number of herbaceous plants as food sources for their caterpillars, including dandelion. The caterpillars are small and coloured with dark grey, almost black, spiky hairs. They hatch in September and overwinter until early spring.
TopSpeckled footman moth range
The Speckled Footman is scattered across Europe as far south as the Mediterranean and into North Africa, and eastwards as far as Siberia. In the UK, it was once widespread but, since 1990, has only been recorded from heaths in Dorset.
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Species with a similar range
Speckled footman moth habitat
This is, essentially, a heathland species, favouring dry habitats with plenty of its food plants, which include various species of grass.
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Species found in a similar habitat
Speckled footman moth status
Classified as Vulnerable in the UK.
TopSpeckled footman moth threats
Heathland has been a threatened habitat for years, through losses to agriculture, urban development, and forestry planting as well as fires and drainage projects.
TopSpeckled footman moth conservation
The Speckled Footman moth is listed as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and is included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. In order to safeguard the species’ future in the UK, it is vital that its true status is established. The action plan recommends that a full survey of its former sites be undertaken and genetic testing carried out to determine whether the subspeciesbivittata is endemic to Britain. Only then will it be decided if a re-introduction programme using captive-bred British moths should be carried out, or whether moths introduced from the continent could be used. It may even be proved that individuals from the continent migrate to the UK and interbreed with the resident moths.
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The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP. |
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View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Find out more
The UK BAP Species Action Plan is available on-line at:
http://www.ukbap.org.uk
Authentication
Information supplied by English Nature.
http://www.english-nature.org.uk
Glossary
- Endemic
- A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
- Subspecies
- A different race of a species, which is geographically separated from other populations of that species.
References
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Image credit
Speckled Footman
© David Green / British Butterfly Conservation Society Ltd
Butterfly Conservation
Manor Yard
East Lulworth
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 5QP
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1929 400 209
info@butterfly-conservation.org
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/
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