Foxglove Pug

Taxobox
name = Foxglove Pug
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Geometridae
genus = "Eupithecia"
species = "E. pulchellata"
binomial = "Eupithecia pulchellata"
binomial_authority = Stephens, 1831The Foxglove Pug "(Eupithecia pulchellata)" is a moth of the family Geometridae. It has a scattered distribution across Europe, closely following the range of its food plant. Where present it can be very common.

The wingspan is 18-22 mm and the species is quite colourful for the genus, with alternating bands of dark brown and buffish orange on the forewings. In some races the buff bands can be very pale. The hindwings are similarly marked but generally paler. It flies at night in May and June ref|flight_season and is attracted to light.

The larva is quite variable but is normally yellowish-green with purplish markings. It usually feeds inside foxglove flowers. Soon after hatching it seals the mouth of the flower with silk and feeds on the reproductive parts of the flower. The corolla of the flower persists on the plant after those of uninfested flowers have fallen. Somewhat surprisingly, given this very specialized feeding ecology, it has also been recorded feeding on "Brassica oleracea" in Malta [citation needed] . The species overwinters as a pupa.

# "The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range."

Subspecies

*"E. p. intermedia"
*"E. p. pulchellata"

References

Chinery, Michael "Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe" 1986 (Reprinted 1991)

Skinner, Bernard "Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles" 1984