Common Pug
Common NameCommon Pug
Scientific NameEupithecia vulgata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, dark brown
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrub, heathland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantshawthorn, blackthorn, willow, birch, oak, rowan
Flight PeriodApril to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of deciduous trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Pupation occurs in the soil, with the pupa overwintering.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its generally dull, mottled appearance with indistinct banding and a small, often faint, discal spot on the forewings. Definitive identification from other pug species often requires examination of genitalia.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, often showing faint darker cross-lines and a small central discal spot. The hindwings are typically paler.
