Common in gardens, saltmarshes, woodland and grassland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight fairly common to common on waste ground and in woods and large gardens. Wingspan 21-23 mm. The main confusion species is Currant Pug E. assimilata, but Wormwood Pug is larger, with more distinct markings. Larva feeds on Mugwort, Yarrow, Common Ragwort, Wormwood, Sea Aster, Goldenrod and Canadian 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