Four-Spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra) lives in lichen‑covered trees, walls and stones across Southern and central Europe, Palearctic, Amur River, Japan.
Fascinating facts about the Four-Spotted Footman
- The four-spotted footman spans 35-55 mm from wing tip to tip, a measurement that places it above every other member of the Lithosiinae. Its overall wing breadth exceeds that of its relatives, confirming its status as the biggest species in the subfamily. Males are the smaller sex, while females often reach the upper end of the size range, reinforcing the pronounced size gap. No other Lithosiinae approaches this dimensions.
- Within the Lithosiinae, the four-spotted footman has a wingspan of 35-55 mm, making it the biggest species of the subfamily. Males are the smaller sex, while females often reach the upper end of the size range.
- Male four-spotted footmen have gray wings with a yellow wing joint and a blue-black stripe along the front edge of the outer forewing rim, while females have yellow wings with two blue-black dots. These differing wing patterns distinguish the sexes.
- The larvae of the four-spotted footman are slate-grey with thin longitudinal lines and a transverse black spot across the back, and they normally feed on lichen and algae that grow on trees, walls and stones. When the population becomes over-abundant, the usual food source can run out, forcing the caterpillars to turn to the foliage of their host trees. In those circumstances they chew the leaves and needles, and the damage can become injurious to the trees.
- The four-spotted footman is a moth of the family Erebidae that inhabits southern and central Europe and extends eastward across the Palearctic to the Amur River and Japan. Its range also includes the southern parts of Great Britain and the Scandinavian peninsula.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthern and central Europe, Palearctic, Amur River, Japan
HabitatLichen‑covered trees, walls and stones
DietLichen and moss
About the Four-Spotted Footman
In the warm, golden light of summer evenings, the Four-Spotted Footman moth dances through the air with a gentle, ethereal elegance, its delicate wings beating in a soft blur as it navigates the intricate tapestry of grasses and wildflowers. With a subtle, muted beauty, this unassuming creature weaves its way through the landscape, its pale, speckled wings a masterful blend of form and function, allowing it to flit and flutter with effortless precision. As it moves, the Footman's quiet confidence and understated charm are a testament to the enduring magic of the natural world.
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