Dingy Footman

The Dingy Footman is a small, plain moth with narrow grey front wings that fold flat along its body when resting, giving it a long, slim look. The back wings are lighter in colour, often whitish, but they are rarely seen when the moth is settled. Adults usually have a wingspan of 28 to 35 millimetres. This moth is common across England and Wales but becomes less common in Scotland and Ireland. It lives on the edges of woods, in hedgerows, heathlands, and gardens where lichens grow in plenty. The caterpillars mainly eat lichens that grow on tree bark, walls, and rocks. The adult moths are active from June to August and are drawn to lights, although they often go unnoticed because of their dull colours. When disturbed, they tend to run across surfaces instead of flying away straight away, a behaviour typical of footman moths.