Red-necked footman

Red-necked footman is a black moth that flies from late May to early July. It generally flies in the evening and at night though it eats and moves also during the day. It is easily recognisable thanks to its carbon black wings and red neck. The grayish larva is covered with long hair and has orange-red bumps on its back.

The red-necked footman lives in open mixed forests and thrives best in spruce forests and on their edges. Its range covers Europe and North Asia.

When not in flight, the red-necked footman keeps its wings tightly around its body. The larvae use the lichens on trees, especially on old fir trees, and hanging mosses for food.

Although the red-necked footman is a very common basic species, the hanging mosses it feeds on are sensitive to air pollution, especially to sulfur dioxide in exhaust fumes.