Photo © David G Green
Valerian Pug
Eupithecia valerianata
Checklist Number70.181 [B&F: 1821]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Subfamily: | Larentiinae (Eupetheciini) |
| Genus: | Eupithecia |
| Species: | valerianata |
| Authority: | (Hübner, [1813]) |
Nationally scarce (Nb) in fens, marshes, damp woodland and other damp areas throughout much of the British Isles, but inconspicuous and perhaps overlooked. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight rare and local, frequently suffering from a high degree of parasitism, and this factor may be responsible for keeping numbers in check. Wingspan 15-18 mm. Similar to Slender Pug E. tenuiata and Lead-coloured Pug E. plumbeolata. Sometimes found as a larva, if sought in the flowerheads of the foodplant. Larva feeds on flowers and seeds of Common Valerian, 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)
VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Park (SU11) | 15/06/2002 | one | Graham Stephenson | Adult |
| West Park (SU11) | 15/06/2002 | one | Colin Plant, Mike Wall, Tim Norriss | Adult |
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater (SZ58) | 1929 | - | David G Green | Larval |
| Alverstone (SZ58) | 1930 | - | David G Green | - |
| Appleford (SZ58) | 01/08/1933 | - | H G Jeffery | Larval |
| Shanklin (SZ58) | 11/05/2008 | one | Anon | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherque NR (SU50) | 17/06/1971 | one | S Wakely | Adult |
| Crab and West Wood (SU42) | 1980 | - | Jim M Cheverton | - |
| West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42) | 01/08/1980 | - | Richard J Dickson | Larval |
| Crab and West Wood (SU42) | 31/07/1985 | - | D H Sterling | Larval |
| Crab and West Wood (SU42) | 31/07/1985 | - | D H Sterling | Larval |
| Beaulieu (SU30) | 16/06/1994 | one | Tony Pickles | Adult |
| Beaulieu (SU30) | 16/06/1995 | one | Tony Pickles | Adult |
| Beaulieu (SU30) | 16/06/1995 | one | Brian Ivon-Jones | Adult |
| Broughton Down (SU23) | 28/06/2000 | one | Brian Ivon-Jones | Adult |
| Noads Copse (SU23) | 30/07/2002 | one | Brian Ivon-Jones | Adult |
| Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50) | 05/07/2009 | one | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 12/06/2023 | one | Barry Fox | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotstone Down (SU53) | 1961 | - | Barry Duffin | - |
| Abbotstone Down (SU53) | 1962 | - | Mike Jeffes | - |
| West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42) | 31/07/1985 | - | Anon | Larval |
| Porton Down (SU23) | 01/07/2000 | - | Anon | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 24/06/2008 | three | Tony Pickles | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 24/06/2008 | one | David G Green | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 04/07/2008 | two | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 12/06/2009 | three | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 12/06/2009 | one | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 30/06/2009 | one | Tony Dobson | Adult |
