Pelosia muscerda

• Subfamily: Arctiinae, Lithosiini, Lithosiina
• Wingspan: 24-30 mm
• Flight period: Jun - Sep
• Spread: Uncommon
• Host plants: Lichens

Information

The Pelosia muscerda also called Dotted Footman is a moth of the Erebidae family, subfamily Arctiinae, with a wingspan of 24-30 mm.
Visible in almost all of Europe, with the exception of Portugal, Ireland and the northern part of the Balkan peninsula, in Italy it is absent from Sicily. *
Occupying swamp habitat, this moth is not a common species.**

The front wings of the Pelosia muscerda are greyish white with a series of three - four black points starting from the middle of the costa towards of the inner corner, to stop in the median area. Two more black dots are visible in the anal area. The margin is slightly fringed. The hind wings are whitish, also slightly fringed.

Univoltina the moth flies from June to early September depending on the location. In August and September the eggs are visible. It overwinters in the larval stage. It frequents humid soils such as bogs, forest swamps, riparian forests, humid deciduous forests, birch woods, marshy soils in general.

Larval food plants, although not fully documented, are some species of lichen that grow on bushes.


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Online guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland - https://ukmoths.org.uk/