V-Pug
Chloroclystis v-ata
This record describes Chloroclystis v-ata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-19 mm. The green ground-colour, small size, V-shaped mark and more triangular resting posture all serve to make this species quite easy to identify. There are two generations in the south, flying in May and June, then again in August, but further north there is just one, in June and July. The flowers of a range of plants form the main foodstuff of the larvae, including Elder and Brambles. It is fairly common throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland, but scarcer in northern England and Scotland. 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
- Chloroclystis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Parks and gardens, even in urban areas.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations in the south, flying in May and June, then again in August, but further north there is just one, in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The flowers of a range of plants form the main foodstuff of the larvae, including Elder and Brambles.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland, but scarcer in northern England and Scotland. 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 Chloroclystis v-ata. 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 V-Pug (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About V-Pug
What is V-Pug?
V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is V-Pug found?
Habitat: Parks and gardens, even in urban areas.
When is V-Pug active?
V-Pug: seasonal activity - There are two generations in the south, flying in May and June, then again in August, but further north there is just one, in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a V-Pug?
The flowers of a range of plants form the main foodstuff of the larvae, including Elder and Brambles.