White-spotted Pug
Eupithecia tripunctaria
This record describes Eupithecia tripunctaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 17-21 mm. Identified by the distinct white spots on the base of the wings. It occupies damp areas and well wooded areas. It has two generations, with adults on the wing in May and June and then in July and August. The larvae are yellowish green and attractively marked with brown. They feed on the flowers and seeds of Wild Angelica and Hogweed. The spring generation also feeds on the flowers of Elder. This species is widely distributed throughout Britain except the north of Scotland and can be locally common. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Eupitheciini
- Genus
- Eupithecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occupies damp areas and well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
It has two generations, with adults on the wing in May and June and then in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae are yellowish green and attractively marked with brown. They feed on the flowers and seeds of Wild Angelica and Hogweed. The spring generation also feeds on the flowers of Elder.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is widely distributed throughout Britain except the north of Scotland and can be locally common. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupithecia tripunctaria. 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 White-spotted Pug (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Pug
What is White-spotted Pug?
White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is White-spotted Pug found?
Habitat: It occupies damp areas and well wooded areas.
When is White-spotted Pug active?
White-spotted Pug: seasonal activity - It has two generations, with adults on the wing in May and June and then in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a White-spotted Pug?
The larvae are yellowish green and attractively marked with brown. They feed on the flowers and seeds of Wild Angelica and Hogweed. The spring generation also feeds on the flowers of Elder.