Atolmis Rubricollis

''Atolmis rubricollis'', the red-necked footman, is a small moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in the summer in forested regions of Europe and Northern Asia. This moth was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''.

Description

The red-necked footman is a small moth that is mostly charcoal grey or deep dark brown (fresh specimens almost black), but has a conspicuous orange thorax, part of which is visible behind the black head as an orange-red collar. The hindwings are brownish grey. The antennae and legs are black and the end of the abdomen is yellowish orange or golden yellow. The wings are tightly folded together around the body and have pleated, squared-off ends. The wingspan is and the length of the forewings is .

Wilhelm Neuburger named Romanian specimens as the synonym ''Atolmis flavicollis''; these were less dark brown and with a light yellow instead of a red collar.

Life cycle

The white eggs of the red-necked footman are laid in small groups in crevices in the branches of trees, especially those of old firs. They grow to a length of about . Their head is black with a bold diagonal white stripe on either side. Their main colour is dark greenish grey marbled with cream. Each segment bears six tiny reddish yellow warts which bear black hairs. The caterpillars feed on lichente before winter sets in and overwinter as glossy brownish red pupae, in a loose cocoon buried among moss and leaf litter. The moths fly between May and July depending on their location. They are mostly nocturnal, being attracted to lights, but also sometimes fly by day. Sometimes the moths feed at scabiouses and other flowers, but they usually rest during the day on the long branches of firs overhanging paths in woods, where they may be obtained by beating the branches over a net.

Distribution

The red-necked footman is found in Europe south to the Mediterranean and east across the Palearctic to temperate Asia, including Siberia as far east as the Amur River and China. It is found in parts of Ireland, and in the United Kingdom is present in the south-westerly counties of England and Wales. Records from other parts of the United Kingdom probably represent accidentals and not breeding populations. It is a woodland species found in deciduous and coniferous woodland, especially on spruce trees, but also on pine, oak and beech. It likes to be near streams in cool wooded valleys in upland regions.

Image:Atolmis rubricollis 02 (HS).jpg, Caterpillar
Image:Atolmis rubricollis 03 (HS).jpg, Pupa
Image:Red-necked_Footman.jpg, Adult feeding
Image:Naturkundliche Sammlung Übermaxx Überseemuseum Bremen 0078.JPG, With wings extended

References

Notes

* This article incorporates matter translated from the Dutch Wikipedia
* This article incorporates matter translated from the German Wikipedia

External links

''Lepidoptera of Belgium''''Lepiforum e.V.''''De Vlinderstichting''

{{Taxonbar , from=Q219094

Lithosiina
Moths described in 1758
Moths of Asia
Moths of Europe
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus