Dingy mocha moth  (Cyclophora pendularia)

Dingy Mocha

Facts

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Family Geometridae
Genus Cyclophora (2)
Size Wingspan: 2.6- 2.9 cm (2)
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Status

Classified as Rare in Great Britain (1).

Description

The common name 'mocha' refers to mocha stone, an agate with a beautiful moss-like patterning of crystals (3). The Dingy Mocha is finely mottled with red-brown patterning and is 'dingy' only in that it is darker in colour than any of the related species (4).

Range

This moth is currently restricted to Dorset and western Hampshire, having been lost from Wiltshire, Surrey, Sussex, Suffolk, Devon, Kent and South Wales (1). It is known from most European countries (1).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network GatewayDisplay NBN Map Button

Habitat

Dingy Mocha caterpillars live in open heathland or damp grassland habitat on 1-3m tall willows (Salix species) (1).

Biology

This double-brooded or 'bivoltine' species flies at night (5); the first brood flies in May and early June, and the second flies in July and early August. Caterpillars are present in July and September, and the overwintering stage is the pupa (2).

Threats

Factors contributing to the decline of this species may include the loss of suitable habitat. Heathland has been lost due to development, forestry and agricultural intensification; furthermore, poor management may result in succession to woodland. Heathland fires and scrub clearance during heathland restoration may also put pressure on this moth (1).

Conservation

The Dingy Mocha has been targeted as a priority species for conservation under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). The aims of the Species Action Plan are to maintain and enhance all known populations, and to restore the species to five sites in its former range by 2010 (1). Research into the ecology of the species and a regular monitoring programme have also been recommended (1).

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Further Information

Further reading on moths:
Skinner, B. (1998) Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking Press, London.
Leverton, R. (2001) Enjoying Moths. Poyser, London. Young, M. (1997) The natural history of moths. Poyser, London.

Authentication

Information authenticated by Butterfly Conservation:
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/

Glossary

Bivoltine: (also known as 'double-brooded'). Insect life cycle that takes 12 months to complete, but involves two generations in that time. The first generation adults lay eggs that give rise to those of the second generation. The second generation overwinters either as an egg, larva, pupa or adult.
Pupa: stage in an insect's development when huge changes occur, which reorganise the larval form into the adult form. In butterflies the pupa is also called a chrysalis.
Succession: the progressive sequence of changes in vegetation types and animal life within a community that, if allowed to continue, result in the formation of a 'climax community' (the last stage in a succession where the vegetation reaches equilibrium with the environment).

References

  1. UK BAP (December 2001):
    http://www.ukbap.org.uk
  2. Skinner, B. (1984) Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking Press, London.
  3. Marren, P. (1998) The English names of moths. British Wildlife 10: 29-38.
  4. Pers. observation from images.
  5. Parsons, M. (2002) Butterfly Conservation. Pers comm.