Freyer's Pug Moth
Common NameFreyer's Pug Moth
Scientific NameEupithecia intricata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown
HabitatRocky areas, quarries, coastal cliffs, urban gardens, and other places where its conifer host plants grow.
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, and the Near East, including widespread distribution across Great Britain.
Host PlantsJuniperus, Cupressus, Thuja
Flight PeriodMay to July, with a partial second generation sometimes occurring in August and September.
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed on the foliage of various conifers, particularly Juniper, Cypress, and Arborvitae. Pupation occurs in the soil or among leaf litter, with the moth overwintering as a pupa.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its mottled grey-brown forewings with a prominent black discal spot and often a pale subterminal line. Identification can be challenging due to similarity with other pug moths, sometimes requiring examination of genitalia for definitive ID.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled grey-brown wings, featuring faint wavy cross-lines and a distinct dark discal spot on each forewing. The hindwings are paler and less distinctly marked.
