Tawny Speckled Pug
Eupithecia icterata
This record describes Eupithecia icterata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20 to 23 mm. One of our largest Eupithecia species. Typically the moth shows the fairly plain, two-tone reddish and brown appearance of the subspecies fulvata but in northern parts a more variegated race cognata occurs. July and August is the main flight time for this usually single-brooded species. The foodplants are Yarrow and Sneezewort, the caterpillars eating the flowers as well as the leaves. Occurring widely and often commonly throughout most of 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
Areas where the food plants are found.
Seasonal Activity
July and August is the main flight time for this usually single-brooded species.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplants are Yarrow and Sneezewort, the caterpillars eating the flowers as well as the leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurring widely and often commonly throughout most of 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 icterata. 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 Tawny Speckled Pug (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tawny Speckled Pug
What is Tawny Speckled Pug?
Tawny Speckled Pug (Eupithecia icterata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tawny Speckled Pug found?
Habitat: Areas where the food plants are found.
When is Tawny Speckled Pug active?
Tawny Speckled Pug: seasonal activity - July and August is the main flight time for this usually single-brooded species..
What is the life cycle of a Tawny Speckled Pug?
The foodplants are Yarrow and Sneezewort, the caterpillars eating the flowers as well as the leaves.