Erebidae

72.054 Shaded Fan-foot Herminia tarsicrinalis (Knoch, 1782)

RDB

Similar species: Fan-foot Herminia tarsipennalis is slightly larger (13 to 16mm) and lacks the diffuse shaded bar across the centre of the forewing. Jubilee Fan-foot Zanclognatha lunalis is a larger (14 to 17mm) immigrant moth which lacks the shaded bar across the forewing, has a bolder crescent mark and a slightly scalloped central cross-line.

Forewing: 12 to 14mm

Habitats: Open deciduous woodland with dense Bramble ground cover. Open scrub with Bramble cover.

Habits: The moth can be disturbed from Brambles during the day. It flies from dusk when it nectars at flowers and comes to sugar. It later comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Bramble. In captivity it will accept the withered leaves of Dandelion. It pupates in a cocoon in the leaf litter.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Traveller's-joy and nettles.