Photo © Keith Tailby

Golden-rod Pug

Eupithecia virgaureata

Checklist Number
70.161 [B&F: 1851]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Geometridae
Subfamily:Larentiinae (Eupetheciini)
Genus:Eupithecia
Species:virgaureata
Authority:Doubleday, 1861

Local on roadside verges, rough ground, woodland edges and clearings, in western England and Wales. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight extremely rare, and only occasionally recorded: voucher specimens should be retained for confirmation of identification. Wingspan 17-20 mm. Very similar to Grey Pug E. subfuscata, from which males are separated by slight differences in the antennae, and females only by dissection of the genitalia. Larva feeds on Common Ragwort and Goldenrod, over-wintering as a pupa.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Nunney's Wood (SZ48)1900-Mike WallLarval
Fort Victoria CP (SZ38)13/06/1998oneMike WallAdult
Parkhurst Forest (SZ49)25/09/2010oneK G BlairLarval

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Linford Brook Valley (SU10)1960-Tony Steele-
Linford Brook Valley (SU10)1960-Tim Norriss, Lynn Fomison-
Linford (SU10)1968oneAnonAdult
Sandleheath (SU11)1992-L W Siggs-
Sandy Point (SZ79)14/08/2005oneRothamsted Insect SurveyAdult
Sandy Point LNR (SZ79)09/07/2011oneNorman HutchinsonAdult
Sandy Point LNR (SZ79)19/07/2012oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Ashurst, NF (SU31)27/08/2013oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Ashurst, NF (SU31)28/08/2013oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Waterlooville (SU60)30/04/2024oneKeith GodfreyAdult