Dotted Fan-foot
Common NameDotted Fan-foot
Scientific NameMacrochilo cribrumalis
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyHerminiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorspale brown, grey
HabitatDamp grasslands, fens, marshes, wet woodlands, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsvarious grasses, sedges, Carex spp.
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on grasses and sedges, overwinter as larvae, and pupate in the spring. Adults are typically univoltine.
Identification TipsLook for the pale, almost straw-colored forewings with distinctive scattered black dots and faint wavy crosslines. The prominent, forward-projecting labial palps (fan-foot characteristic) are also a key feature.
Description
This is a small, pale brownish-grey moth with a triangular wing shape, characterized by scattered small dark dots and faint darker crosslines on its forewings, providing cryptic camouflage.
