Toadflax Pug - Eupithecia linariata
Wingspan 11 to 16 mm. Although similar to the Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata), this species is smaller, usually brighter-coloured Another useful feature for separating these two species is the innermost black band, which does not extend all of the way to the dorsum (rear edge) of the wing in Toadflax Pug.
It inhabits waste ground and open grassy areas.
July and August.
The small greenish caterpillars are marked with brown and feed in the flowers and seed pods of Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) and cultivated Snapdragons (Antirrhinum).
In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant).
Adrian Russell
Evington garden
04 September 2014
Gen det Andy Mackay
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Species profile
- Common names
- Toadflax Pug
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Geometridae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 2
- First record:
- 04/09/2014 (Russell, Adrian)
- Last record:
- 19/06/2017 (Boud, Susan)
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% of records within its species group
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