138 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Mocha {Ephyra aiinulaia). 



Normally, the wings of this species (Plate 53, Figs. 6, 9) are 

 yellowish white, inclining to ochreous yellow with the blackish 

 central shade near to and sometimes united with the blackish 

 irregular and outwardly toothed second cross line on both fore 

 and hind wings ; the rings are deep brown or blackish. There 

 is variation in the width and intensity of the central shade, and 

 the rings sometimes are absent on the fore wings (ab. obsoleta^ 

 Riding), and occasionally all the wings are devoid of the annular 

 mark (ab. biobsoleta, Riding). Examples of a second generation 

 reared in captivity are rather deeper coloured, and have a 

 sprinkling of black scales, chiefly on the fore wings. 



The caterpillar (Plate 51, Fig. 2, after Hofmann) is dark 

 green, yellow between the rings ; there are three yellow lines 

 along the back, the outer ones waved ; head reddish brown, 

 paler marked. (Adapted from Porritt.) There is also a pale 

 oclireous brown form. 



It feeds on maple in June, and as a second generation in 

 August and September. It may be reared on sycamore. The 

 moth frequents lanes, woods, and thickets, especially those in 

 which maple is plentiful ; it flies at dusk, and in the daytime 

 may be beaten from hedgerows in which the food plant grows. 

 It has also been found among hornbeam. The species is most 

 frequent from Kent to Hampshire, but widely distributed over 

 England up to Worcester and Herefordshire, and eastward to 

 Norfolk, occurring also in Northampton and Yorkshire. 



The colour and ornamentation of this charming little insect 

 seem to have struck Haworth, who named the species in the 

 vernacular, as bearing some resemblance to the Mocha stone 

 from Arabia, a kind of transparent agate in which are seen 

 brownish moss-like markings. 



