Common Pug
Eupithecia vulgata
This record describes Eupithecia vulgata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15-18 mm. This species is represented by a number of subspecies and forms. Typical forms and the Scottish and Irish subspecies scotica and clarensis have fairly distinct markings, but the fairly common form atropicta is dull and poorly marked, though it does usually retain some trace of the white subterminal line. It occurs in any suitable habitat with the food plants Hawthorn and Willow. The species flies from May to August, with two generations in the typical race. The larvae feed on a range of trees and plants, including Willow and Hawthorn. Common and widespread throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Eupithecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occurs in any suitable habitat with the food plants Hawthorn and Willow.
Seasonal Activity
The species flies from May to August, with two generations in the typical race.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of trees and plants, including Willow and Hawthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common and widespread throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia vulgata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Common Pug (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Pug
What is Common Pug?
Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Pug found?
Habitat: It occurs in any suitable habitat with the food plants Hawthorn and Willow.
When is Common Pug active?
Common Pug: seasonal activity - The species flies from May to August, with two generations in the typical race..
What is the life cycle of a Common Pug?
The larvae feed on a range of trees and plants, including Willow and Hawthorn.