Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 9th 2022. (© David Hastings) (1/400th sec at f11)  Form stramineola. Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 6th 2025. (© David Hastings) (1/200th sec at f/11) DescriptionFamily: Erebidae (ABH : 72.044) Wing span: 30 - 36mm This species is distinguished by its broad, rounded fore-wing. The leading edge is strongly curved, and, in the grey form, has a narrow yellowish stripe. Form stramineola has a plain straw-yellow fore-wing. It is well-distributed in southern England and Wales. It extends north into Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and southern Scotland. It is most abundant in damp places, but can also be found in drier habitats. There is one generation from late June to August, sometimes later. It over-winters as a larva. Larvae eat lichens and algae on trees, bushes, posts, walls and rocks. It comes to light, sometimes in numbers, and feeds on flowers, including Hemp-agrimony and Lesser Burdock. Earliest UK sighting: 1st July ; Latest UK sighting: 19th September Sightings
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