About Cyclophora pendularia (Clerck, 1759)
Cyclophora pendularia, commonly called the Dingy Mocha, is a moth species belonging to the family Geometridae. This species was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759, and it is native to the Palearctic realm. The wingspan of adult moths ranges from 26 to 29 mm. The wings have a greyish base color, covered in dense, darker grey striping. Their overall markings are similar to those of the birch mocha, but the characteristic rings on Dingy Mocha wings are almost always reddish or purplish, and the central line across the wings is wavy. Newly laid eggs are bone-colored; as they develop, pink dots and patches appear on the egg surface. Caterpillars are most often bright green, with three lines running along their back. The central line is edged with dark green on both sides, while the other two lines are wavy. The sides of the caterpillar are blotched with pink or pale purple, and may sometimes be whitish with no additional markings. The caterpillar's head is pale brown with darker markings, and is slightly notched at the crown. The fore legs are tipped with pink. There are multiple different color forms of the caterpillar: in a second green form, the sides are pinkish with dark-brown oblique stripes; in a third form, the caterpillar's overall base color is pale brown. Adult moths fly from May to August, producing two generations per year, with flight dates varying by location. The larvae feed on willow.
