The 'Grey Pug' ''(Eupithecia subfuscata)'' is a
moth of the family
Geometridae. It is found throughout the
Palearctic region and the
Near East.
The forewings of this species are grey marked with pale
fascia and radial lines which give it a mottled appearance. The hindwings are much paler and plainer.
Melanism is quite common in this species. The
wingspan is 17-21 mm. The adults fly in May and June with a second brood sometimes emerging in August . The species flies at night and is attracted to light.
The
larva feeds on the
leaves and
flowers of a wide range of
plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a
pupa.
#''The flight season refers to the
British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
Recorded food plants
★ ''Abies'' -
Fir
★ ''
Achillea''
★ ''Aegopodium'' -
Ground-elder
★ ''Alnus'' -
Alder
★ ''
Angelica''
★ ''
Artemisia''
★ ''Betula'' -
Birch
★ ''
Centaurea''
★ ''Cirsium'' -
Creeping Thistle
★ ''
Comptonia'' - Sweetfern
★ ''
Epilobium'' - Willowherb
★ ''Filipendula'' -
Meadowsweet
★ ''
Galium'' - Bedstraw
★ ''
Hypericum'' - St John's Wort
★ ''Larix'' -
Larch
★ ''
Lysimachia'' - Yellow Loosestrife
★ ''
Malus'' - Apple
★ ''
Ononis'' - Restharrow
★ ''Picea'' -
Black Spruce
★ ''Populus'' -
Poplar
★ ''Rubus'' -
Raspberry
★ ''Salix'' -
Willow
★ ''
Scabiosa''
★ ''Solidago'' -
Goldenrod
★ ''Tanacetum'' -
Tansy
★ ''Urtica'' -
Nettle
★ ''Valeriana'' -
Valerian
References
'Chinery, Michael' ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe'' 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
'Skinner, Bernard' ''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' 1984