70.173 : 1825 : 8509
Geometridae : Larentiinae

Lime-speck Pug

EUPITHECIA centaureata ([Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775])
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 16-20mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Central Asia : Mongolia : southern Siberia : eastern China : Taiwan : Near east : north Africa
UK Distribution: Well distributed in Great Britain : Isle of Man-local : Ireland-Fairly widespread
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Geometra) centaureata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Species - Eupithecia
  • [Phalaena] absinthiata Clerck, 1759
Type Locality -
  • Austria-near Vienna
Flight Period: South-April to October-possibly two overlapping generations,the second being only partial in some areas : Northern Britain-May to August-univoltine
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Hedgerows
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The larvae are found in various colours with diagonal patches down the sides finishing on top of the larva.Yellow form-with brownish red markings. Green form-dark green markings.Pinkish form-deep pink markings.
Pupa: Pupates in plant debris or loose earth.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth has a white to whitish brown narrow forewing with a black discal spot located on a light or darker black patch adjacent to the costa, which makes this moth unmistakeable.

In the f.albidior Heinrich, 1916 this black costal spot is blurred out,leaving an almost white forewing and in the f.obscura Dietze, 1910 the forewing background is much darker.

The moth is often seen at rest on fences or windows, but as I found out on my Buddleja ,if disturbed they tend to hide beneath a leaf.The moth is attracted to light and is a regular visitor to the light trap.
Photo gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - EUPITHECIA:

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Subspecies
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Larentiinae
Eupitheciini
EUPITHECIA Curtis, 1825
Eupithecia centaureata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
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[Phalaena] absinthiata Clerck, 1759
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PHALAENA (Geometra) centaureata ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
= Geometra oblongata Thunberg 1784
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EUPITHECIA Curtis, 1825
= Tephroclystia Hübner 1825
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Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.114  - n.7
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Austria-near Vienna
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E.c.f.albidior Heinrich, 1916-black costal spot blurred out,almost white background
E.c.f.obscura Dietze, 1910-wing background darker
E.c.f.bistrigata Lempke, 1969-two complete cross lines
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E.c.centralisata Staudinger, 1892 - Cyprus : Central Asia