Foootman Caterpillars Eilema/Manulea lurideola/complana

The caterpillar of the Common Footman moth, above, is black with tufts of black hair along its body and a dashed red line down its flanks.

Its larval foodplants include lichens, bramble, hawthorn and blackthorn. Overwinters as caterpillar.

The Scarce Footman caterpillar is also mainly black but has a couple of parallel rows of shiny red or yellow ovals along its back like lights or jewels. It also has tufts but is less hairy. It also feeds mainly on lichens.