Foxglove Pug
Eupithecia pulchellata
This record describes Eupithecia pulchellata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-22 mm. Quite a brightly coloured member of the Pug family. Similar to the much rarer Toadflax Pug. A comparison is made at the following LINK . Inhabiting open ground, woodland and a range of other habitats where its foodplant is found. The adults fly from May to July and are easily attracted to light. The larvae feed inside the flowers of Foxglove, consuming the stamens and developing seeds. A fairly common and widely distributed species in 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
Inhabiting open ground, woodland and a range of other habitats where its foodplant is found.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from May to July and are easily attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed inside the flowers of Foxglove, consuming the stamens and developing seeds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common and widely distributed species in 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 pulchellata. 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 Foxglove Pug (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Foxglove Pug
What is Foxglove Pug?
Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Foxglove Pug found?
Habitat: Inhabiting open ground, woodland and a range of other habitats where its foodplant is found.
When is Foxglove Pug active?
Foxglove Pug: seasonal activity - The adults fly from May to July and are easily attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Foxglove Pug?
The larvae feed inside the flowers of Foxglove, consuming the stamens and developing seeds.