The caterpillar is greyish, more or less freckled with ochreous; three lines along the back, the central one whitish, the others black and interrupted; the hairs arising from reddish warts are brown or greyish brown. Head black. It feeds from July to October on lichens, chiefly those growing on fir and oak, but also on beech, and on old palings. Chrysalis, glossy dark red-brown in a tight-fitting cocoon of silk mixed with the hairs of the caterpillar; spun up among the lichen. The moth is shown on Plate [92], Figs. 5, 6, and the caterpillar and chrysalis on Plate [93].
The moth is on the wing in June and July; in forward seasons as early as the end of May. On a sunny afternoon it may be seen careering around trees, generally pretty high up. When resting the moths sit about on the trees or on the herbage under them. In some years it occurs in large numbers, but it is not usually very abundant, and sometimes even in its best localities only a few specimens will be seen during the season. It frequents woods, especially the larger ones, throughout the southern half of England up to Norfolk on the east, and Hereford on the west. In the northern counties it is rare, and is not common in Scotland or Ireland.
Abroad, its range is through Central and Northern Europe, except the extreme north, to Dalmatia, Altai, and Amurland.
The Muslin (Nudaria mundana).
This delicate little moth has the semi-transparent fore wings pale greyish, faintly tinged with brown; crossed by irregular brownish lines; the hind wings are paler, shaded with a darker tint on the outer margins. Occasionally all the wings have a smoky tinge. The moth is shown on Plate [95], Figs. 3, 6, and the caterpillar and chrysalis on Plate [94], Fig. 2.
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| Pl. 94. |
| 1. | Crimson Speckled Footman: caterpillar. |
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| 2, 2a. | Muslin Moth: caterpillar and chrysalis in cocoon. |
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| 3, 3a. | Four-spotted Footman: caterpillar and chrysalis. |
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| Pl. 95. |
| 1. | Round-winged Muslin Moth, male; 4 female. | 2, 5. | Rosy Footman. |
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| 3. | Muslin Footman, male; 6 female. | 7. | Dew Moth, male; 9 female. |
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| 8. | Four-dotted Footman, male; 10 female. |
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| 11. | Four-spotted Footman, male; 12 female. |
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