Review of 2019 and 2020 - Moths: Geometers (Geometridae) - part 7: Pugs II (Eupithecia II)

GEOMETERS (GEOMETRIDAE) (continued)


Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata - Totals of 9 between 30th March and 26th May 2019 (the last being my latest ever) and 13 between 9th April and 8th May 2020.  This compares with an average here of 12-13 a year.  Elsewhere 4 at the meadows, one at Sculthorpe Moor, one at Cranwich Heath and 4 in the Lake District (Keswick and Borrowdale).

Brindled Pug, North Elmham, 30th March 2019

male Brindled Pug, North Elmham, 26th May 2019

Brindled Pug, Cranwich Heath, 14th March 2020

Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata - One in the garden trap on 16th May 2019.  None in 2020.  I've had a blank year here before (2018) but apart from these and 5 in 2017, it's been one a year every other year.

male Oak-tree Pug, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Juniper Pug Eupithecia pusillata - None.  I've only ever had one here, in 2015 (and before that 2 at my last house in Bawdeswell in 2012).


Cypress Pug Eupithecia phoeniceata - None.  One in my garden in 2016 was only the 5th county record but this species is increasing so there must be a fair chance of catching another.  However the neighbour's big leylandii hedge that was there in 2016 has now been chopped down (no bad thing) so that will reduce my chances of a repeat any time soon.


White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria - One in the garden trap on 7th August 2019.  This was my fourth record here with singles in 2015, 2016 and 2017.  This one was very worn and needed an intimate examination to ensure the ID was correct (in fact I don't think I even suspected it before I'd caught sight of her bits).  None in 2020.

female White-spotted Pug, North Elmham, 7th August 2019

Golden-rod Pug Eupithecia virgaureata - My first example of this moth was trapped at our holiday accommodation in Carsaig on Mull on 13th June 2019.  It was too worn to positively ID without dissection although I thought it was going to turn out to be something interesting.  This species does occur in Norfolk but is pretty rare except at one or two sites in the north west of the county.

female Golden-rod Pug, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Dwarf Pug Eupithecia tantillaria - I'd seen 7 Dwarf Pugs at 4 locations between 2012 and 2014 but hadn't seen any more anywhere since moving here in 2014, so it was a nice surprise to find one in my garden trap on 21st May 2020.  I still have no idea what possessed someone to call this relatively large pug a Dwarf Pug.

male Dwarf Pug, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

Larch Pug Eupithecia lariciata - One at Ceann Chnocain on Mull on 13th June was my first ever (and was another worn pug that required gen detting to resolve).  Although scarce in Norfolk there are a few records quite close to me so hopefully I'll get one here sometime.  I'm not sure that there are any larches in the immediate vicinity though, so that won't help me get one in my garden.

female Larch Pug, Ceann Chnocain (Mull), 13th June 2019

Plain Pug Eupithecia simpliciata - 2019 and 2020 were quite good years for this species and I took the opportunity to record my first ever, trapped in my garden on 24th July 2019, swiftly followed by one at the meadows two nights later (which I actually identified before the one in my garden), and then another in my garden on 4th August 2020.  These are the first records for my 10km square - it's normally quite a scarce moth although there are widespread records across the county.  Of all the pugs that could be called plain, this is quite low down on the list - bit like the Dwarf Pug that isn't dwarf.

Plain Pug, North Elmham, 24th July 2019

Plain Pug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th July 2019

Plain Pug, North Elmham, 4th August 2020

Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata - None.  I've had singles here in 2015, 2016 and 2017 but not since.  It's common enough on heaths but seems relatively hard to find in other habitats.


Angle-barred Pug Eupithecia innotata - I've never found this species in Norfolk but I caught my first one overnight on 13th June 2019 while staying at Carsaig on Mull.  With plenty of its foodplants growing at the meadows and a scattering of records in mid Norfolk I hope to find this species locally before too long.

female Angle-barred Pug, Carsaig (Mull), 13th June 2019

Ochreous Pug Eupithecia indigata - Singles caught at home on 16th May 2019 and 21st May 2020, the first times I've caught this species here.  Also one at the meadows on 25th May 2019 and singles at Frost's Common and Hills and Holes on 21st May 2020.

Ochreous Pug, North Elmham, 16th May 2019

Ochreous Pug, North Elmham, 21st May 2020

Thyme Pug Eupithecia distinctaria - The first of 4 pug lifers I caught on Mull, and at least in the sense that this isn't a Norfolk species, the best of the 4.  I caught this one at the place we were staying at Carsaig on 10th June 2019.

female Thyme Pug, Carsaig (Mull), 10th June 2019

Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata - In 2019 singles recorded in the garden on 28th and 29th May and then on 4 dates between 4th and 27th August.  I average over 11 a year here so 6 wasn't a great showing but 2020 made up for it with one on 17th June and 20 between 4th and 27th August.  These included 5 on 8th August and 3 counts of 3 - I'd not had more than 2 in a night here before.  Elsewhere 3 at the meadows on 25th May 2019, one there on 3rd September 2019, and singles at Hellesdon, Hills and Holes and Brancaster.

Lime-speck Pug, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 25th May 2019

Pinion-spotted Pug Eupithecia insigniata - None.  I've never seen this species and although there are a few records away from the main parts of its Norfolk range (Brecks and NW Norfolk) there aren't any from round here so perhaps not very likely to turn up here.


Triple-spotted Pug Eupithecia trisignaria - None.  I caught a couple here in 2016 but none in other years.


Freyer's Pug Eupithecia intricata - Singles in the garden here on 24th and 29th June 2019 and 4 between 8th and 26th June 2020.  This species isn't quite annual here but about 2 a year is average.  This is one of a handful of moths that I used to record far more frequently at my old house in Bawdeswell, although looking at NorfolkMoths it looks like my time here coincided with a couple of exceptionally good years for the species generally.

Freyer's Pug, North Elmham, 6th June 2020

Satyr Pug Eupithecia satyrata - None in the garden which was a bit disappointing after catching 4 of these over the previous 3 years.  Elsewhere I tentatively identified a caterpillar on Fleabane at Foxley Wood as this species, but reading the new caterpillars book now I'm not sure if this is a safe ID (comments welcome!).

possible Satyr Pug caterpillar, Foxley Wood, 17th August 2019

Wormwood Pug Eupithecia absinthiata - One caught in the garden on 19th July 2019 and 3 between 8th and 29th July 2020.  I had been averaging 7 a year so these were poor years.  I find this species much harder than some people seem to think it is to separate from some Currant Pugs as size overlaps and none of the supposed differences in pattern (e.g. prominence of dark spots or band at base of abdomen) seem to be reliable.  Wing shape seems can be the best feature to use but this can be confusing and I've had lots that have looked one way at first and the other way on second look.  On occasion I find really clear examples and sometimes I make do with measuring their wing length but more often I resort to checking genitalia (as I did with all 4 of these).

male Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 19th July 2019

female Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 8th July 2020

female Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 24th July 2020

female Wormwood Pug, North Elmham, 29th July 2020

Valerian Pug Eupithecia valerianata - None.  I've never caught this species here and there aren't any records for my 10km square but although it's not common, there are widespread enough records to make me think I could get it here sometime.


Currant Pug Eupithecia assimilata - 5 caught in my garden between 16th July and 26th August 2019 and 7 between 8th May and 22nd August 2020.  These were poor years - I've averaged 15 a year here.  Elsewhere one on Mull on 13th June 2019.  I record a slightly higher proportion of these without gen det compared to Wormwood Pug but I check a few every year.

male Currant Pug, North Elmham, 26th August 2019

male Currant Pug, North Elmham, 8th May 2020

male Currant Pug, North Elmham, 10th August 2020

male Currant Pug, North Elmham, 12th August 2020

male Currant Pug, North Elmham, 16th August 2020

Next page: more Geometridae

Early April - moths starting to appear

No April fools on 1st April but an Early Grey was new for the year.  Not many other moths: Small Quaker, Clouded Drab and 9 Hebrew Characters.

Early Grey, North Elmham, 1st April

Next day this Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci appeared in the house (as usual, in a room without carpets).  This one was my first this year.

Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci, North Elmham, 2nd April

That night Twin-spotted Quaker made it on to the year list.Others moths were 2 Shoulder Stripes, Oak Beauty, Common Quaker, 6 Clouded Drabs, 11 Hebrew Characters and 2 Chestnuts.

Twin-spotted Quaker, North Elmham, 2nd April

It missed its own month but a March Tubic Diurnea fagella was new for the year on 3rd April.  Other moths that night were 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, 3 Oak Beauties, Red Chestnut, 2 Small Quakers, 5 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker and 9 Hebrew Characters.

March Tubic Diurnea fagella, North Elmham, 3rd April

A single new moth for the year for the fourth consecutive night on 4th, this time Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla.  Also that night: Oak Beauty, Dotted Border, 3 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 3 Clouded Drabs, 5 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle.

Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, North Elmham, 4th April

The following night's moths were March Moth, 3 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers and 10 Hebrew Characters. The only new species for the year in the trap was this Buff-tailed Bumblebee (I guess the tick it was carrying would have been too had I been able to identify it).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, North Elmham, 5th April

The following night produced March Moth, 2 Small Quakers, Common Quaker, 8 Clouded Drabs, 10 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

On Saturday 7th I took a birding group round Minsmere in Suffolk.  As I was tucking into a slice of Chocolate Challenge at the cafe after we'd finished I felt a sharp nip to the back of my hand.  The culrpit turned out to be this Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum.

Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum, Minsmere, 7th April

A good variety of moths at home that night, though an Engrailed was the only one that was new for the year.  The others were 6 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Shoulder Stripe, Red Chestnut, 10 Small Quakers, 7 Common Quakers, 7 Clouded Drabs, Twin-spotted Quaker, 11 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Chestnut.

Engrailed, North Elmham, 7th April

There were a few other insects caught too, including my first green lacewing of the year, a male Chrysoperla carnea, and my first leafhopper of the year, Empoasca vitis.  Having recently joined the Dipterists Forum I thought I'd try my hand at identifying a fly, but failed.  I think it belonged to the family Simuliidae but I couldn't get any further than that.

Chrysoperla carnea (male), North Elmham, 7th April

Epoasca vitis, North Elmham, 7th April

Simuliid fly sp., North Elmham, 7th April

The following night was quieter with just 4 Small Quakers, 3 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 17 Hebrew Characters and Black Sexton Beetle. Next day was even worse with Varied Carpet Beetle inside, 3 Small Quakers and 7 Hebrew Characters.

The night of 10th April was more promising and hopes were raised when I went to have a quick look round the outside of the trap before I went to bed as the first two moths I saw were both new for the year: Water Carpet (not quite annual here) and Brindled Pug.  It turned out they were the only new for the year but a reasonable variety included March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Red Chestnut, 7 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, 3 Clouded Drabs, 2 Twin-spotted Quakers, 23 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Brindled Pug, North Elmham, 10th April

Water Carpet, North Elmham, 10th April

Another new moth for the year the following night: Early Thorn.  That was my 30th moth species this year - pretty poor for 11th April (last year I was on 47 by this time despite having spent a week out of the county in early April).  Also March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Red Chestnut, 6 Small Quakers, 4 Common Quakers, Twin-spotted Quaker, 15 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Early Thorn, North Elmham, 11th April

First field trip and another new moth

On Wednesday night the conditions seemed as good for mothing as they have been for ages and better than they looked like they would be for another few days.  So Dave and I headed down to Creaking Gate Lake.  There were a few moths, enough to keep us entertained for a while, though things soon dried up and we packed up quite early.  The clear highlight was a whopping 9 Yellow Horned - a fantastic total for a species that I only saw for the second time earlier this week.  Indeed it was our highest count for any species!

Yellow Horned, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

The others were 4 March Tubics Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, 4 Brindled Pugs, Early Thorn, 2 Oak Beauties, 2 Small Quakers, 8 Common Quakers, 2 Hebrew Characters, Satellite and 2 Chestnuts.

mating pair of March Tubics Diurnea fagella, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Brindled Pug, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Chestnut, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Satellite, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Other 'wildlife' included several millipedes which I later identified as White-legged Snake Millipedes Tachypodoiulus niger, the first time I've managed to put a name to a Millipede!

White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Common Earwig, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

Common Toad, Creaking Gate Lake, 23rd March

When I got home I went upstairs and promptly found a Caloptilia on the landing.  It proved to be Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella, a new species for me and, amazingly, my 5th moth lifer at home this year.  I suppose with it being an alder-feeder and there being tonnes of alders at Creaking Gate Lake, there has to be a suspicion that I brought it home with me, but the circumstances of finding it - settled upstairs discovered as soon as I went upstairs for the first time after getting home - make it seem relatively unlilely.

Pale Red Slender Caloptilia elongella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 23rd March

Apart from that mothing at home since my last post has been fairly mediocre at best, except for my second Tufted Button Acleris cristana, also on 23rd.

Tufted Button Acleris cristana, 23rd March

The rest were:

• Monday 21st: 2 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, Small Quaker and Hebrew Character;
• Tuesday 22nd: 2 March Tubics Diurnea fagella, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, Small Quaker, 6 Hebrew Characters and Chestnut; 
• Wednesday 23rd: 3 Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, March Moth, 2 Small Quakers, Hebrew Character, Early Grey and Chestnut; 
• Thursday 24th: just a single Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana at a window - absolutely nothing in the moth trap

March Tubic Diurnea fagella, North Elmham, 22nd March

2-spot Ladybird, North Elmham, 24th March