72.048 Eilema pymgmaeola (Pigmy Footman)
fw: 10-15mm; Jul-Aug; lichens and algae; RDB on coastal sand-dunes and shingle beaches – ssp pygmaeola resident Kent between Sandwich and Deal and Isle of Sheppey, Norfolk between Winterton and Waxham, vagrants recorded in Norfolk Broads and occasional migrants elsewhere;
ssp pallifrons resident and endemic to Dungeness, Kent.
ssp pallifrons resident and endemic to Dungeness, Kent.
Eilema pymgmaeola (Pigmy Footman) §2 male
ID: Small with a narrow forewing; rests with forewings wrapped tightly around the body. Form pymaeola has a pale grey forewing. Form pallifrons has a straw yellow forewing. Small size distinguishes this from most other British Eilema species, only overlapping significantly with E.sororcula (Orange Footman) which is orange-yellow and flies May-Jun in woodland, and slightly with E.lurideola (Common Footman), which has a dark grey forewing with a strongly contrasting yellow costal stripe. Superficially similar to Crambus perlella (Family: Crambidae) but this has long projecting labial palps.
DIssection
Male genitalia
§1 ssp pygmaeola; Winterton, Norfolk; 22/07/2008; fw 9.9mm
§2 ssp pygmaeola; Winterton, Norfolk; 09/07/2015; male; fw 12.2mm; to light
§3 ssp pygmaeola; Winterton, Norfolk; 09/07/2015; male; fw 11.6mm; to light
§4 ssp pallifrons, Dungeness, Kent; 12/07/2018; male; fw 11.0mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 ssp pygmaeola; Winterton, Norfolk; 09/07/2015; male; fw 12.2mm; to light
§3 ssp pygmaeola; Winterton, Norfolk; 09/07/2015; male; fw 11.6mm; to light
§4 ssp pallifrons, Dungeness, Kent; 12/07/2018; male; fw 11.0mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 16/03/2015 (§1) | §1 removed (worn specimen), §2&3 added 04/01/2015 | §4 added 25/05/2019
