Species Account

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Distribution

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Local

Local Status: Uncommon and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 2 See here for explanation

Flight time: Two generations, May-Jun, Jul-Aug.

Forewing: 10-12mm.

Foodplant: Elder and Wild Angelica.

IMPORTANT - Please note that the maps and accounts are provisional, subject to change and further update. The whole dataset still needs to go through the final verification process and it is likely that a very small number of records will not satisfy the present requirements and there are other records that have not been formally submitted. The information is for guidance only.

Record breakdown:

	VC9	VC5	VC11	Region
Year first recorded	1953	2007	1999	1953
Year last recorded	2011	2007	2010	2011
Number of records	406	1	7	828
Number of individuals	519	1	6	1052
Unique positions	107	1	3	222
Unique locations	97	1	3	202
Adult records	372	1	6	758
Immature records	3	0	0	6

For the region, we have a total of 828 records from 202 sites. Earliest record on file is in 1953.

Photos

Species Account

Similar species: 1837 Eupithecia subfuscata (Grey Pug), 1851 Eupithecia virgaureata (Golden-rod Pug) and 1856 Eupithecia lariciata (Larch Pug).

For further information refer UK Moths.

Davey, P., 2009: Found throughout Britain, but local in northern Scotland, the larva feeding on the flowers and ripening seed capsules of wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris), goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), and the flowers of elder (Sambucus nigra). In Dorset, the moth is locally widespread and at low density in the adult stage, but larvae have been reported as common, albeit heavily parasitised, on wild angelica from a number of localities. The larva has also been found on elder.

This species is rather similar to the Grey Pug¹⁸³⁷, Golden-rod Pug¹⁸⁵¹ and Larch Pug¹⁸⁵⁶. Diagnostics include: a white spot on the notum (Larch Pug has white crest on the thorax); white tornal spots on forewing and hindwing; weak darkish costal spots.

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