Geometridae : Sterrhinae
False Mocha
CYCLOPHORA (Codonia) porata (Linnaeus, 1767)
False Mocha
CYCLOPHORA (Codonia) porata (Linnaeus, 1767)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 20-25mm
Worldwide Distribution: Southern Europe : Central Europe : Turkey : Caucasus : Transcaucasus N.Iran : Israel
UK Distribution: Nationally Scarce B throughout its range : Southern counties of England-uncommon : Wales-scarce : Not recorded above Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Coppiced and Oak woodlands : Heathland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Attached to Oak leaf prior to leaf drop.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The False Mocha C.porata has declined dramatically on the small scattering of sites where this moth has been recorded in the southern half of England and is now considered a Nationally Scarce B moth under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan .
It could be said to have suffered from the reverse fate of the Pine Hawk-moth when pine plantations were increased possibly to the detriment of this moth. Without doubt, changes to woodland management/coppicing etc, have also affected the fortunes of this moth,however, emphasis on the subject has increased over the past few years to the advantage of butterflies so one can only hope the same is affecting moth populations although I can only speak from what I find during my photographic adventures.
The False Mocha C.porata forewings and hindwings are buff/light brown but have a pinkish blush which is stronger inside the post medial line towards the forewing costa.
The post medial line is bold and reddish brown.
The sub terminal line is dooted in black and continues through the hindwing. The reniform spot on the forewing is elongated and white as is the spots on the hindwings.
Comes to light,clearly in extremely low numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Southern Europe : Central Europe : Turkey : Caucasus : Transcaucasus N.Iran : Israel
UK Distribution: Nationally Scarce B throughout its range : Southern counties of England-uncommon : Wales-scarce : Not recorded above Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire
UK Conservation Status -
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity
- Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Geometra) porata Linnaeus, 1767
- Phalaena albipunctata Hufnagel, 1767
- Italy
Habitat: Coppiced and Oak woodlands : Heathland
Similar Species -
- Blair's Mocha Cyclophora puppillaria Hübner, 1799
Pupa: Attached to Oak leaf prior to leaf drop.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The False Mocha C.porata has declined dramatically on the small scattering of sites where this moth has been recorded in the southern half of England and is now considered a Nationally Scarce B moth under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan .
It could be said to have suffered from the reverse fate of the Pine Hawk-moth when pine plantations were increased possibly to the detriment of this moth. Without doubt, changes to woodland management/coppicing etc, have also affected the fortunes of this moth,however, emphasis on the subject has increased over the past few years to the advantage of butterflies so one can only hope the same is affecting moth populations although I can only speak from what I find during my photographic adventures.
The False Mocha C.porata forewings and hindwings are buff/light brown but have a pinkish blush which is stronger inside the post medial line towards the forewing costa.
The post medial line is bold and reddish brown.
The sub terminal line is dooted in black and continues through the hindwing. The reniform spot on the forewing is elongated and white as is the spots on the hindwings.
Comes to light,clearly in extremely low numbers.
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus calliprinos - Palestine Oak-one of Turkey Oaks
- Quercus petraea - Sessile Oak
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
Taxonomy
|
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - CYCLOPHORA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Forms/Aberrations: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Geometroidea Geometridae Sterrhinae Cosymbiini CYCLOPHORA Hübner, 1822 Codonia Hübner, [1823] Cyclophora (Codonia) porata (Linnaeus, 1767) - Phalaena albipunctata Hufnagel, 1767 - PHALAENA (Geometra) porata (Linnaeus, 1767) = Geometra huebneraria Haworth, 1809 = Geometra hübneraria Haworth, 1809 = Phalaena poraria Latreille, 1825 = aestiva Hormuzaki, 1899 = delinearia Lambillon, 1905 = ginaria Lambillon, 1905 = venata Prout, 1913 = plumbomarginata Cockayne, 1950 = basirubra Cockayne, 1952 = vinicolor Cockayne, 1952. - Syst. Nat. (Edn 12) 1 (2): Title page : p.866 - n.233 - Italy - C.c.p.visperaria Fuchs, 1884-Summer form-lighter, with more dark spots C.c.p.rubearia Lambillion, 1905-Reddish hue to centre of wings C.c.p.puncularia Lambillion, 1905-Brown-grey patches on wings C.c.p.linearia Lambillion. 1905-Median shade pronounced C.c.p.uniformata Lempke, 1949-Eyespots persist only C.c.p.nigrosparsaria Lempke, 1949-Wings suffused with brown and black |