Atolmis rubricollis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 28-36mm. Adults are fairly distinctive in appearance. The forewings are long and black and held tightly over the body in typical footman fashion. The abdomen and thorax are also black with a distinctive red collar which is plainly visible on all adults.

Key Identification Features:

• Dark velvety appearance of the adults
• Tightly wrapped wings around the body
• Red collar

Sets:

Flight Period: From mid-June until the end of July.

Status: Widespread in Fermanagh but sporadic elsewhere. Until recently considered scarce and extremely local in N. Ireland, and confined to a few localities in Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh. Seen in large numbers at some sites including Correl Glen, Braade, Crom, Garvary and Carricknabrattogue, Fermanagh. Other sites include Lough Tusker, Tyrone, Peatlands Park and Argory, Armagh and also Whitepark Bay and Portrush, Antrim. The latter records, being well north of other sites, may be of immigrants rather than adults from an established population.

Ecology: A distinctive species generally associated with woodland, especially conifer plantations, that border open moorland. It has been observed in sizable numbers flying around the upper branches of conifers during bright sunny conditions. It has also been seen in reasonable numbers in dull weather resting among ground vegetation between conifer rides in a few upland sites in Fermanagh. The larvae feed on various species of lichens and algae found on oak Quercus spp., Beech Fagus sylvatica, larch Larix spp. and other species of conifer. It overwinters as a pupa protected inside a cocoon.

World Distribution: Throughout northern and central Europe as far east as Asia.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2039 Agassiz number: 72.042

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: