70.179 : 1830 : (1831 - Ling Pug) : 8527
Geometridae : Larentiinae

Wormwood Pug

EUPITHECIA absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)

Forms
Ling Pug - E.a.f.goossensiata Mabille, 1869
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 15 - 25mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less (Mediterranean Islands ) : to Caucasus to Japan
UK Distribution: England,Wales,lowland mainland Scotland,Ireland - well distributed throughout : Isle of Man - local : Channel Isles - local and occasional
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)
Type Species - Eupithecia
  • (Phalaena) absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specfied
Flight Period: South - May - August : Elsewhere - June - July
Habitat: Gardens : Saltmarshes : Grasslands : Open Woodland : Heathland : Moorland
Similar Species -
  • Currant Pug - Eupithecia assimilata - Doubleday, 1856
Larva: The 20mm final instar larva is variable in colour from shades of brown or green with a darker dorsal line which swell into diamond shapes at end of each segment. Subdorsal lines are same colour with much smaller blotches along sides. Head is light green with reddish brown dashes.
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon just below soil where it overwinters
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: This pug is the commonest of the reddish-brown pugs with very distinct discal spots and spots along the costa and well as a white spot in the tornus area. Often confused with the Currant Pug, this moth is much larger and markings are more distinct.

The Ling Pug E.a.f.goossensiata Mabille, 1869 was originally thought to be a separate species but is now considered to be a heathland form of E. absinthiata (Clerck, 1759) and as such does not carry a new species number in the latest "Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles" book.
It is however an abundant form found throughout the British Isles on moorland and heathland.

Moth is attracted to light appearing at the moth trap in small numbers.
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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Forms:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometroidea
Geometridae
Larentiinae
Eupitheciini
EUPITHECIA Curtis, 1825
Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)
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[Phalaena] absinthiata Clerck, 1759
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PHALAENA absinthiata (Clerck, 1759)
= Eupithecia coagulata Guenée 1858
= Eupithecia catharinae Vojnits 1969
= Eupithecia goossensiata Mabille 1869
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EUPITHECIA Curtis, 1825
= Tephroclystia Hübner [1825]
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Icones insectorum rariorum cum nomibus eorum trivialibus, locique e C. Linnæi. - pp. [1-10], Tab. 1-16. Holmiæ: Title Page : pl.8 - fig.9
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Not Specified
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E.a.f.nigrescens Lempke, 1969 - wings and body blackish brown
E.a.f.goossensiata Mabille, 1869 Ling Pug - slender with limited markings