Species Mocis marcida - Withered Mocis - Hodges#8744

8744

wingspan about 47 mm, based on two photos by Jim Vargo at MPG

larvae to 45 mm

Adult: forewing usually purplish-brown (sometimes yellowish-brown or pale gray) with darker shading in subterminal area, and usually paler shading in terminal area; lines thin, distinct at close range but showing little contrast against ground color and therefore not noticeable at a distance; PM line bulges inward just above inner margin but the bulge is faint, giving the illusion that the PM line stops before reaching the inner margin; subterminal line a series of black dots; hindwing yellowish-brown or orangish-brown with diffuse grayish shading distally, and dark PM and terminal lines

Larva: Mocis species are recognized by intersegmental dorsal black spots between A1-A2 and A2-A3 (but concealed in fold when larva is at rest); prolegs lacking on A3 and A4; body yellowish-brown with broad chocolate subdorsal and subventral stripes; wide yellowish-brown lateral area often divided by narrow dark brown stripe running through spiracles from T1 to A8; head pale brown with numerous fine stripes and contrasting white lines

[adapted from description by Wagner et al, who say that Mocis larvae cannot be reliably identified to species]

Coastal North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, rarely straying northward as far as New York

fields, marshes, grasslands, and other open grassy areas

adults fly from April to November, or all year in southern Florida and Texas (peak numbers from July to October in Florida)

larvae from late May onward, or all year in the far south

Larvae feed on grasses.

multiple generations per year

"Unlike most catocaline larvae, Mocis caterpillars do not wriggle violently when accosted, but rather simply drop to the ground--a habit shared by many grass feeders--where their coloration blends in with dead, withered grass blades." [David Wagner et al]