The grey pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region. It is also found in North America. Since it does not place any special demands on climatic conditions, special caterpillar food plants, geological subsoil or the like it is a typical species of almost any Hochstaudenflur (plant corridor), where it occurs in the herb layer, in bushes and even on deciduous trees. It can be found on forest edges and hedgerows, on heath, in rocky places and wetlands, parks and gardens, as well as in villages and town centres.
Subspecies There are two subspecies: Eupithecia subfuscata subfuscata Eupithecia subfuscata ussuriensis Dietze 1910 (Russian Far East, Japan)
Description The forewings of this species are grey (occasionally with an ochreous tinge) marked with pale fascia and radial lines which give it a mottled appearance. There is a pale sub-marginal line and a small discal spot. The hindwings are much paler and plainer also with a small black discal spot.Eupithecia subfuscata full description Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. British insects: the genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae. Version: 29 December 2011 Melanism is quite common in this species. The wingspan is 17–21 mm. See also Prout Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World. In: Axel Hausmann (Hrsg.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe. 1. Auflage. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, Riley, A.M. and Prior, G. British and Irish Pug Moths A Guide to their Identification and Biology Apollo Books Wikisource:The Moths of the British Isles Second Series/Chapter 9#230
Final instar larvae are smooth and elongated. They are grey-green or red-brown coloured and show a grey-green to dark olive-green diamond-like pattern on the back. The side edges are whitish.The pupa is yellow-brown with greenish wing sheaths. At the cremaster there are six hook bristles, the middle pair of which is more powerfully formed.
Similar species Eupithecia virgaureata Eupithecia lariciata A safe determination is usually only possible by means of a genital morphological examination.
Biology 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 species overwinters as a pupa.
Larval food plants The larva feeds on the leaves and flowers of a wide range of 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
External links Grey pug at UKMoths Lepiforum e.V.