I’m afraid this short blog is a little late against real time due to holidays etc but still relevant to looking for Pug larvae that Tim set out earlier in the year.
The end of August going into September are good times to go for searching many of the larvae, and with a tip off where we might find some Goldenrod, a less than common wildflower these days, we went in search on Salisbury Plain knowing the listed Pugs for this larval food plant include Bleached Pug, Golden-rod Pug and Wormwood Pug.
The actual date was the 23rd August, one of those special days in summer when the sun is shining and its just hot, the sort of day when people are out with their cameras searching that special Brown Hairstreak shot before they are too late and we found a few people doing just that, although we didn’t need to search.
The end of August going into September are good times to go for searching many of the larvae, and with a tip off where we might find some Goldenrod, a less than common wildflower these days, we went in search on Salisbury Plain knowing the listed Pugs for this larval food plant include Bleached Pug, Golden-rod Pug and Wormwood Pug.
The actual date was the 23rd August, one of those special days in summer when the sun is shining and its just hot, the sort of day when people are out with their cameras searching that special Brown Hairstreak shot before they are too late and we found a few people doing just that, although we didn’t need to search.
Typical track view but remember you are entering a restricted and controlled area
Onto the track leading into Salisbury Plain the first spot of the day was the good volume of Toadflax growing beside the track and of course Toadflax Pug is also on the list. We spent a little time in the heat searching and sure enough there was evidence that they were there or had been there, as we found plenty of feeding damage to the plants (See photos)
Sometimes the window of opportunity passes you by and for this Pug I’m afraid it will have to be another time.
Sometimes the window of opportunity passes you by and for this Pug I’m afraid it will have to be another time.
 Common Toadflax grows along the side of the track for a short distance |  Is that a Pug entrance hole in the flower on the left,quite possibly |
 Little doubt seeing entrance/exit holes that these flowers/seeds have been vandalised. |  Different angle showing feeding damage |
An even better view of feeding damage but alas no Pug larva was found so we moved on.
A wasp Spider conveniently webbed in among the Common Toadflax
Further along the track there was good numbers of Wayfaring Tree -Viburnum lantana - loaded with berries, a lovely meeting place for Brown Hairstreak but alas the wind was just too fresh, although we were to see about three later with one feeding on minerals off the track.
 Plenty of nice ripe berries on the Wayfaring Tree for the Brown Hairtsreak but the wind was a little strong this day. |  Distictive leaves help to identify this bush |
Upon reaching the area where the Goldenrod we started searching for our quarry among the flowers,leaves etc and it was long before Tim found what was left of an escapee namely a Tortrix moth that had emerged leaving the tell tale pupal case showing through the leaf.
 Solidago viagaurea - Goldenrod grows beside the track |  Going over-are we too late? Only time will tell |
Well this one didn't leave it too late as the Tortix moth tell tale sign he emerged very nicely
Next up was a nice little green number, which may or may not be a pug as we cant be sure, but now it will have to wait as it has since pupated.
I found the next mystery “looper” larva sitting outstretched from a Goldenrod flower.That larva has now also pupated and was sadly the last find of the day although Tim went back the following day and found yet another larval species which again we have not yet identified and this is still in larval form but very close to pupating as it fixes itself between leaves with silk to feed in safety.
I found the next mystery “looper” larva sitting outstretched from a Goldenrod flower.That larva has now also pupated and was sadly the last find of the day although Tim went back the following day and found yet another larval species which again we have not yet identified and this is still in larval form but very close to pupating as it fixes itself between leaves with silk to feed in safety.
 Unidentified larva No 1 |  Unidentified larva No 1 |
Unidentified larva No 2 found as you see it on Goldenrod Flower head
 Larger View |  Same Larva shot 15 days later. It has now pupated. |
 49.028 - Syndemis musculana larva - (Hübner, [1799]) - Salisbury Plain - 17 September 2016 - still feeding on Goldenrod between two leaves spun together with silk for protection -will pupate in April/May - identified 20 September whilst writing species page (See) appears to have stopped feeding |  Here you can see the silk work-very neat |
A few days later I had an email from Tim with some photos of Mottled Pug larva that he had located at Cholderton feeding on Acer(Maple) so we did get our first named species but how Tim found it shows he has good vision as after three weeks the larva is still only about 12/15mm long and as thin as a needle.
 Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - © Tim Norriss |  Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - © Tim Norriss |
Mottled Pug Larva - EUPITHECIA exiguata (Hübner,[1819]) - Cholderton - 29 August 2016 - taken shot 7 September 2016 and still only 14mm long max.- © Tim Norriss
Photo taken after this blog on 24 September 2016
Updates will of course be passed on as they happen but in the meantime I have a great number of species pages to add text to as well as incorporate the relevant few butterflies found on holiday.
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