Maps updated: April 2008

Herminea tarsipennalis (Treitschke, 1835)

Description: Wingspan 30-35 mm. Forewings yellowish brown. Antemedian and post median lines darker, the latter curved inwards towards the costa; subterminal line straight and clearly defined. Hindwings fuscous with a darker well defined subterminal line.

Similar Species: The Small Fan-Foot H. grisealis which has the subterminal line curved towards the apex of the forewing.

Key Identification Features:

• Size
• Straight subterminal line on forewing
• Dark hindwings

Sets:

Flight Period: End of May to mid-August.

Status: Widespread and not uncommon in all counties.

Ecology: A species that has been found in a variety of habitats including woodland, bogs and gardens. Adults come to light in small numbers and are occasionally disturbed by day from vegetation. The larvae feed from August to October on dead and withered leaves of Beech Fagus sylvatica, oak Quercus spp., Bramble Rubus fruticosus and Alder Alnus glutinosa. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; common across western Europe from Portugal to Fennoscandia.

Caterpillar: