Sloe Pug
Pasiphila chloerata
This record describes Pasiphila chloerata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 17 to 19 mm. Very similar to the Green Pug but only faintly green and with a salmon pink belt near the base of the abdomen. Various habitats especially around hedges and copses containing Blackthorn. The distinctive caterpillar is pale green or whitish with a pinkish dorsal line, and feeds in the early spring on the flowers of Blackthorn. Only discovered in Britain in the early 1970's, it was undoubtedly previously overlooked amongst Green Pug. It is now known from much of England northwards to Yorkshire. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Pasiphila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats especially around hedges and copses containing Blackthorn.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The distinctive caterpillar is pale green or whitish with a pinkish dorsal line, and feeds in the early spring on the flowers of Blackthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Only discovered in Britain in the early 1970's, it was undoubtedly previously overlooked amongst Green Pug. It is now known from much of England northwards to Yorkshire. 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 Pasiphila chloerata. 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 Sloe Pug (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Sloe Pug
What is Sloe Pug?
Sloe Pug (Pasiphila chloerata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Sloe Pug found?
Habitat: Various habitats especially around hedges and copses containing Blackthorn.
When is Sloe Pug active?
Sloe Pug: seasonal activity - The moths fly in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Sloe Pug?
The distinctive caterpillar is pale green or whitish with a pinkish dorsal line, and feeds in the early spring on the flowers of Blackthorn.