Mystery moth?

	Dorset Moths

Mystery Moth - updated 9 September 2010

Burton, 23 August 2009 © J Southworth

This moth was trapped, identified and submitted in good faith as a False Mocha Cyclophora porata, although the specimen was not retained. Since publication on this website a number of people queried this identification, and in an effort to canvass further opinion I put this on the Yahoo groups UK Moth site. A number of eminent observers have now offered their opinions, and this moth has now had four names attributed to it: False Cyclophora porata, Blair's Cyclophora puppillaria and Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, and 2nd generation Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia. It has been pointed out that its arrival coincided precisely with a south-easterly flow from France, so it is undoubtedly an immigrant.

There is no doubt that this is a tricky individual, and any further contributions are welcome. Please email me at tbox[at]jet2.com, and your opinions would be very welcome. I offer some links to False Mocha pictures, from which you can navigate to the other suggested species, as well as the standard UK Moths and other websites, to help stimulate the debate.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/research/projects/cockayne/taxon.dsml?taxonID=4750&taxon=Cyclophora porata

http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id52350/

http://www.vlindernet.nl/fotoalbum.php?vlinderid=92&fotoid=5892&soort=museum

Update 16th February

There have been a number of emails from very knowledgeable recorders who support the False Mocha identification, and others who favour Jersey Mocha. With such a difficult family group, it is possible that there are published mis-identifications that are muddying the waters, so without a specimen it may not be possible to be 100% certain.

I add a selection of photographs, some of which are mine, at the risk of having the identity questioned by some of you. Anything for a good debate.

Blair's Mocha Cyclophora puppillaria, Hungary, June 2008 © T A Box Mocha Cyclophora annularia and False Mocha Cyclophora porata, Hungary, June 2008 © T A Box

Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, Hungary, June 2008 © T A Box Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, Chickerell, Dorset, 2 August 2008 © C Pinder

This one has been questioned as possibly something like Cyclophora quercimontaria

Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, Maenporth, Cornwall © G Davis Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, Broadwey, Dorset © P Harris

False Mocha Cyclophora porata, Namur, Lavaux-Ste-Anne, Belgium 13 May 2005 © Chris Steeman False Mocha Cyclophora porata, Namur, Lavaux-Ste-Anne, Belgium, 11 August 2006 © Chris Steeman

Update 17th February

I add a contribution from Nick Smith from Northants who has been prepared to offer his opinion based on False Mocha specimens trapped in garden.

"I’m located Northants, and was interested, as the False Mocha is very rarely seen at all in Northants, but is found regularly in my garden, so I have seen several specimens over the last 2-3 years I have been recording. My comments are strictly my opinion, based on what moths I have seen / photographed here, which are almost certain to be resident species, not migrants

I appreciate that continental or local specimens to you may not fit my criteria and may blow apart my comments.

Although your moth exhibits many characteristics of the False Mocha, I think it is more likely a Jersey Mocha (although I have never seen one), based on the following criteria :

On False Mocha, I have never seen this density and spread of dusting of this orange-brown colouring as your specimen, either in Spring or Summer/Autumn specimens
On False Mocha, the Eyes on the Forewing always have a distinct dark or darkish ring around them
On False Mocha, the Hind wing dots form a very distinct ‘M’ at the meeting of the hind wings and continue a zig-zag course across the remainder of the hindwings
On False Mocha, The Fore wing dots also have a more erratic zig-zag course, but not so distinct as the hindwing

All rather subjective, but at least based on first-hand specimens of UK specimens. I hope this stimulates more discussion /comment. Here are Spring and Summer specimens from the garden"

False Mocha Cyclophora porata, 1st generation, Northants © N Smith False Mocha Cyclophora porata, 2nd generation, Northants © N Smith

Update 18th February

I also add second brood Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia to show their similarity, especially as this is another species suggested that is supported by some.

Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia, Harlech area © H Bantock Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia, Maulden wood, Beds © A Banthorpe / www.vc30moths.org.uk

Philip Jewess comments "The genus Cyclophora is surprisingly difficult, with species that show a high degree of variability and some that have two broods that could be mistaken for different species. I have regularly trapped and reared C.porata from Surrey. My C. porata always have a rather fuzzy blotch between the subterminal line and the termen, although it varies in its intensity. The 'mystery moth' has such a blotch, although it is indistinct. Neither C. puppillaria nor C. linearia (2nd brood) have this, so that would tend to rule both these out. C. puppilliaria also has a very sharp apex to the forewing. That would leave either C. porata or C.ruficiliaria, with which I am not familiar, although I would agree with Nick Smith who notes that the forewing discal spot of C. porata has a dark margin and this is not present in the mystery moth.

It all goes to show the advisability of retaining and setting insects that are unfamiliar for future critical examination. One cannot always identify unequivocally from a photograph".

Keith Tailby adds "Having seen literally dozens of Jersey Mocha, of both broods, on Jersey over the last few years and being familiar with all the other UK species that have been suggested for this specimen............ I can only confirm that a primary distinguishing feature of the species is that there are NO dark rings bordering the pale/white orbicular stigmata.

Here is a image of a 2nd-brood specimen of Jersey Mocha, confirmed by gen.det.

Jersey Mocha Cyclophora ruficiliaria, (gen. det.), 2nd brood © K Tailby

Update 19th February

From the Yahoo groups UK Moth site Chris Manley mentions that the Jersey Mocha in the first (2008) edition of his British Moths and Butterflies, is actually a second-brood Clay Triple-lines.

Update 21st February

Further comments received from various interested parties, mainly focussing on the lack of or presence of dark rings around the pale orbicular stigmata. If Keith Tailby's assertation that Jersey's do not have dark rings is correct as supported by most photos, it seems to rule out both the moth in question, and raises a question about the Chickerell record. Although the Chickerell record was gen.det., it was originally thought to be False Mocha, but did the gen. det. prove it was not False Mocha rather than definitely Jersey? Other than the Chickerell moth, are there any photographs at all of confirmed Jersey Mocha with dark rings? Philip mentions the 'fuzzy blotch between the subterminal line and the termen' for both False and Jersey, and this is supported by most published photos, and is present on both the mystery moth and the Chickerell one.

Out of interest, of all of the suggestions received, with some changing of minds along the way, the support for Jersey Mocha, False Mocha and Clay Triple-lines is roughly 40 / 40 / 20 as a percentage.

Update 27th February

The following are offered by Angus following a request for pictures of Clay Triple-lines. He says he has caught up to 50 in a trap which was astonishing for a scarce species in Ireland and adds they were very variable.

Postscript 31st March

Peter Davey has received some news from Martin Townsend on Jersey Mocha. He has recently identified what he previously thought was a Blair’s Mocha trapped on 18 August 1996 at Worth Matravers, as Jersey Mocha. This pre-dates the first UK mainland specimen, trapped on Portland by John Chainey in 2003, by seven years.

This just goes to confirm that the family group are difficult and there has been confusion in the past. I am open to any further input, but without a specimen, this one may never be resolved.

Update 6th September

I have received photos of what appears to be of two different types submitted as a and b, and would appreciate any comments as to their identity. They were caught on night of 3 September, at Vernditch Chase, which is just in Wiltshire by about 1/2 mile. Initial thoughts from a couple of observers have suggested 2nd brood Clay Triple-lines for all of them, and any further input would be welcomed.

Submitted as type a

Submitted as type b

Update 9th September

All of a small number of correspondents have put these all down as 2nd generation Clay Triple-lines, and I cannot help feeling that some of those claimed as Jersey Mocha are also this species..

Two good links for looking at these species have been supplied by Peter Davey.

Jersey Mocha: http://www.lepiform.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?Cyclophora_Ruficiaria

Clay Triple-lines: http://www.lepiform.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?Cyclophora_Linearia