Orange Footman

Eilema sororcula

Distributed in the southern half of Britain, rarely reaching further north than East Anglia.

 Larva blackish, with two yellow dorsal stripes with red dots and white spots. 

The Caterpillars live on lichens growing on the trunks of oak (Quercus) and beech (Fagus) trees.

Forewing with the costa strongly convex and therefore the apical portion of the forewing considerably broader than in the forms of the luterella group. Head, thorax, end of abdomen and the forewing bright golden yellow, the hindwing of male but little paler; in the female both wings slightly paler orange yellow.

Flies in May and June, mainly nocturnal when it can be attracted to light.