Mystery Footman

[clicka15]

Dear All,

Can anyone id this moth from a description alone?

It was found in rough grassland (South Downs, East Sussex) in daylight, looked for all the world like a Dotted Footman (Pelosia muscoda) in terms of body size and shape, but had the pattern of a White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda), including the rows of smaller black dots on the outer edges.

It definitely wasn't an Ermine as it was much smaller. I've looked in Waring, but can't see anything closer than the Dotted Footman, although my moth had more dots arranged in rows - just like the White Ermine.

Best wishes,

Steve.

[Davidg]

Could it have been Thistle Ermine? It's a pyralid so not in Waring.

David

[clicka15]

Hi David,

Thanks for your suggestion of Thistle Ermine (Myelois cribrella). It wasn't this species, but it got me thinking and, after checking UK Moths, my wife and I have agreed on what it was: a Yponomeuta species of some sort.

UK Moths explains that these species are still undergoing scientific research and individual species are difficult to tell apart - even with genital examination. The closest we can get is either:

(i) Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella); or

(ii) Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus).

The Apple Ermine appeared to be the closest match, but the Orchard Ermine's main foodplant is Buckthorn, of which there are many close to where we found the moth. I won't go any further than saying it is Yponomeuta spp. because of the problems with individual identification.

I'm quite pleased to have seen another first though, even though it is a rather common moth.

Thanks again for your help David!

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Davidg]

Hi Steve,

You are aware that the Yponomeuta are tiny - maybe 10mm long, nowhere near the size of a footman?

David

[clicka15]

Hi David.

Yes, I know they're tiny. In my relative ignorance I thought 'Footman' because of the similarity (well, to me anyway). When I checked UK Moths I could see it wasn't any kind of Footman and made a confident id when you suggested an Ermine.

Thanks again,
Steve.