Pug-moth
Guides
Eupithecia
pug moths, pugs
Eupithecia is a large genus of small moths in the family Geometridae, commonly known as "pugs." They are characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. The genus is notably diverse and presents significant identification challenges, with many species requiring dissection of genitalia for definitive determination. Eupithecia species are frequently attracted to lights and have been documented visiting flowers, including apple blossoms, where they contribute to nocturnal pollination.
Eupithecia acutipennis
Eupithecia acutipennis is a small geometrid moth first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1898. It is endemic to California and belongs to the diverse 'pug' moth genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. Adults are active during fall, winter, and early spring, with flight records spanning October through April. The species is one of many Eupithecia found in western North America.
Eupithecia adequata
Eupithecia adequata is a small geometrid moth described by Pearsall in 1910. It belongs to the diverse 'pug' genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and has been documented as a nocturnal visitor to apple flowers, contributing to pollination services.
Eupithecia affinata
Pug moth
Eupithecia affinata is a small geometrid moth first described by Pearsall in 1908. The species belongs to the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as "pugs," characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. It has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services in agricultural settings. The species is distributed across eastern and southwestern North America.
Eupithecia albicapitata
Spruce Cone Geometer
Eupithecia albicapitata is a small geometrid moth first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1876. It occurs across northern North America from Newfoundland to Alaska and south to New York. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services. As a member of the 'pug' genus Eupithecia, it exhibits the narrow-winged morphology and distinctive resting posture characteristic of this diverse group.
Eupithecia albimontanata
Eupithecia albimontanata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as a 'pug' moth due to its narrow wings and characteristic resting posture. The species was described by McDunnough in 1940 and is found in the southwestern United States. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. Like other Eupithecia species, it has been observed visiting flowers at night.
Eupithecia annulata
larch pug moth
Eupithecia annulata, commonly known as the larch pug moth, is a small geometrid moth first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. The species is notable for its broad distribution across North America, ranging from the Yukon to Newfoundland and south to California and Colorado. Adults are active in spring, with larvae feeding on a diverse array of coniferous and some deciduous host plants including larch, spruce, fir, Douglas-fir, and western red cedar.
Eupithecia anticaria
pug moth
Eupithecia anticaria is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Francis Walker in 1862. It is widely distributed across North America, from eastern Canada to the western United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and is active as an adult from May to July. It has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia bolterii
Pug moth
Eupithecia bolterii is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1900. It is one of many 'pug' moths in the genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. The species is known from the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona and Texas. Adults are active in early spring and have been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination.
Eupithecia bowmani
Pug moth
Eupithecia bowmani is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Cassino & Swett in 1923. The species occurs in the Rocky Mountains region of western Canada and the north-central United States. Adults are active in spring and early summer and have been documented visiting apple flowers, where they may contribute to nocturnal pollination. Like other members of the genus Eupithecia, this species exhibits the characteristic narrow-winged resting posture of 'pug' moths.
Eupithecia bryanti
Bryant's Pug
Eupithecia bryanti is a pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Taylor in 1906. It is distributed across western North America from Alaska and Canada through the western United States to California. Adults are active from spring through summer.
Eupithecia carneata
Eupithecia carneata is a small geometrid moth in the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as 'pug' moths. First described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1946, this species is known from a limited geographic range in the southwestern United States. Adults are active in late summer and have been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia casloata
Eupithecia casloata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It belongs to the large genus Eupithecia, commonly known as pug moths, which are characterized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented across a broad range of North America, from western Canada through the western United States to the northeastern states. It has been observed visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination of fruit crops.
Eupithecia castellata
Eupithecia castellata is a small moth in the family Geometridae. It occurs in western North America from California and Nevada north to Washington. The species has a wingspan of approximately 21 mm. Like other members of the genus Eupithecia, it is nocturnal and has been observed visiting flowers at night.
Eupithecia cazieri
Eupithecia cazieri is a small moth in the family Geometridae, described by Kirkwood in 1961. It is endemic to Arizona and belongs to the diverse 'pug' moth genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species is named in honor of Dr. Mont A. Cazier, former Director of the Southwestern Research Station.
Eupithecia cimicifugata
Eupithecia cimicifugata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Pearsall in 1908. It is one of numerous 'pug' moths in the genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented as a nocturnal visitor to apple flowers, contributing to pollination services in agricultural settings. Larvae feed specifically on the fruit of Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh).
Eupithecia classicata
Eupithecia classicata is a geometrid moth described by Pearsall in 1909. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, specifically in Arizona and Durango. The species belongs to the 'pug' moths, a group recognized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. Larvae feed on Arbutus arizonica flowers or leaf buds. Adults have been observed visiting apple flowers, suggesting a potential role in nocturnal pollination.
Eupithecia coconinoensis
Coconino Pug
Eupithecia coconinoensis is a species of inchworm moth in the family Geometridae. As a member of the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as "pugs," it exhibits the narrow wings and distinctive resting posture characteristic of this group. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services. Observations suggest it occurs in forested habitats in western North America.
Eupithecia coloradensis
Eupithecia coloradensis is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It belongs to the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as "pug" moths, recognized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services. Like other Eupithecia species, it is likely a microlepidopteran pollinator with ecological roles that extend beyond its larval stage.
Eupithecia columbrata
Eupithecia columbrata is a species of pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by McDunnough in 1940. The genus Eupithecia, commonly known as 'pugs,' is recognized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. Members of this genus are among the most diverse and challenging to identify within Geometridae, with many species requiring microscopic examination of genitalia for definitive identification. Eupithecia moths have been documented as nocturnal visitors to flowering plants, including apple blossoms, contributing to pollination services.
Eupithecia cretaceata
Cretaceous Pug
Eupithecia cretaceata is a small geometrid moth commonly known as a 'pug' moth. It occurs across much of North America and parts of Europe. The species is notable for its specialized larval diet on Veratrum species and has been documented as a nocturnal pollinator of apple flowers. Adults fly during summer months and are attracted to light.
Eupithecia edna
Eupithecia edna is a small geometrid moth first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It occurs in the southwestern United States, with documented records from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. Adults are active from May through September and have a wingspan of approximately 17–22 mm.
Eupithecia flavigutta
Eupithecia flavigutta is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It is restricted to montane forest habitats in the southwestern United States, specifically Colorado, eastern Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico. The species has a wingspan of 16–20 mm. Members of the genus Eupithecia, commonly called 'pug' moths, are recognized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture.
Eupithecia fletcherata
Fletcher's larch looper
Eupithecia fletcherata, known as Fletcher's larch looper, is a North American moth in the family Geometridae described by George Taylor in 1907. The species is named in honor of Dr. James Fletcher, a prominent Canadian entomologist. It belongs to the large genus Eupithecia, commonly called 'pugs,' which are recognized by their narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia gelidata
Frosted Pug
Eupithecia gelidata is a small geometrid moth with a wingspan of 17–22 mm, distributed across northern boreal and arctic regions. Adults are active from June to mid-July, with one generation per year. Larval host plant associations vary geographically: South Bohemian populations are obligatorily associated with Ledum palustre, while subarctic and boreal populations use Salix spp. as alternative hosts. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia gilvipennata
Eupithecia gilvipennata is a small geometrid moth first described in 1922. It occurs along the North American Pacific coast from British Columbia southward through Colorado to California and Arizona. The species is notable for its very early spring flight period and larval specialization on Arctostaphylos species. Adults have been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia graefii
Graef's Pug
Eupithecia graefii, commonly known as Graef's Pug, is a small moth in the family Geometridae. It occurs in western North America from Alaska to California, inhabiting wooded areas. As a member of the diverse Eupithecia genus—known as "pugs"—it shares the characteristic narrow wings and distinctive resting posture typical of these inchworm moths. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia harrisonata
Eupithecia harrisonata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as a 'pug' moth. It occurs in western North America from British Columbia to California. Adults are active in spring (March to May) and again in summer (July to August). Like other Eupithecia species, it has been observed visiting flowers and may contribute to nocturnal pollination.
Eupithecia herefordaria
Hereford's eupithecia
Eupithecia herefordaria, known as Hereford's eupithecia, is a small moth in the family Geometridae. It is restricted to south-eastern Arizona in the United States. Adults are active in early spring and have forewings measuring 9–10.5 mm in length. Like other Eupithecia species, it has been documented visiting flowers and may contribute to nocturnal pollination.
Eupithecia huachuca
Eupithecia huachuca is a species of pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Grossbeck in 1908. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona and Texas. Its specific epithet references the Huachuca Mountains in southeastern Arizona, one of its documented localities. The species belongs to the large genus Eupithecia, whose members are commonly known as pugs due to their small size and distinctive resting posture with wings held flat and narrow.
Eupithecia indistincta
Pug moth
Eupithecia indistincta is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Taylor in 1910. It is found in eastern North America from Quebec through the northern Atlantic states, with disjunct records from California. Adults are active from May to August and have been observed visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination. Like other members of the genus, it is characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture.
Eupithecia interruptofasciata
Eupithecia interruptofasciata is a species of pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Packard in 1873. Like other members of the genus Eupithecia, it possesses narrow wings and exhibits a distinctive resting posture. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services. It occurs in North America with records from Canada and the northeastern United States.
Eupithecia intricata
Freyer's Pug Moth
Eupithecia intricata, commonly known as Freyer's Pug Moth, is a species of geometrid moth in the family Geometridae. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and North America. As a member of the genus Eupithecia, it is characterized by the narrow wings and distinctive resting posture typical of "pug" moths. The species was first described by Zetterstedt in 1839 under the basionym Larentia intricata.
Eupithecia jejunata
Swift Pug
Eupithecia jejunata, commonly known as the Swift Pug, is a small moth in the family Geometridae. It is found in the southeastern United States, with a range extending from eastern Texas north to Missouri and east to coastal North Carolina. Adults are active primarily from February to mid-May, with a possible partial second generation. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination of agricultural crops.
Eupithecia johnstoni
Johnston's Pug
Eupithecia johnstoni is a small moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as a pug moth. It is found across western and central North America, from British Columbia and Alberta to California and Colorado, with additional records from Michigan and the Maritimes. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 18 mm and are active from March through August. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia lachrymosa
Lachrymose Pug Moth
Eupithecia lachrymosa is a small geometrid moth in the pug moth group, described by George Duryea Hulst in 1900. It occurs across western North America from central Saskatchewan to southern California. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services in agricultural settings.
Eupithecia lafontaineata
Eupithecia lafontaineata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, described by Bolte in 1990. It belongs to the large genus Eupithecia, commonly known as pug moths. The species is found in western North America, with adults active during summer months. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the narrow-winged morphology and distinctive resting posture characteristic of pug moths.
Eupithecia longidens
Eupithecia longidens is a small moth in the family Geometridae, commonly known as a 'pug' moth. It is native to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. The species has a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. Like other members of the genus Eupithecia, it exhibits a distinctive resting posture with narrow wings held tightly against the body.
Eupithecia longidens kervillaria
Eupithecia longidens kervillaria is a subspecies of pug moth in the family Geometridae. The genus Eupithecia, commonly called "pugs," is characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. Members of this genus are frequently attracted to lights at night and have been documented visiting flowers, including apple blossoms, where they may contribute to nocturnal pollination. Identification to subspecies level typically requires detailed examination of morphological features.
Eupithecia longipalpata
Long-palp Pug
Eupithecia longipalpata is a species of pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Packard in 1876. It is distinguished from other members of the palpata group by its larger wingspan of 23–26 mm. The species occurs in western North America from coastal British Columbia south to northern California. Larvae feed exclusively on conifer needles, with documented hosts spanning multiple genera including Abies, Pseudotsuga, Tsuga, Thuja, Picea, and Pinus.
Eupithecia macdunnoughi
Pug moth
Eupithecia macdunnoughi is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Rindge in 1952. It belongs to the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as "pug" moths due to their distinctive appearance and resting posture. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia maestosa
pug moth
Eupithecia maestosa is a small geometrid moth described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It belongs to the diverse 'pug' genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and distinctive resting posture. The species occurs across western North America from Alberta to California and Texas, and has been documented visiting apple flowers as a nocturnal pollinator.
Eupithecia matheri
Eupithecia matheri is a small geometrid moth described by Frederick H. Rindge in 1985. It is one of numerous 'pug' moths in the genus Eupithecia, characterized by narrow wings and a distinctive resting posture. Adults are active in late winter and early spring, with flight records from late January through early April. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia miserulata
Common Eupithecia, Common Eupithecia Moth
Eupithecia miserulata, the Common Eupithecia, is a small North American moth in the family Geometridae. Adults have a wingspan of 12–20 mm and are active from March to November depending on location. The species exhibits considerable geographic variation across its range, with three recognized subspecies. It has been documented visiting apple flowers and may contribute to nocturnal pollination services.
Eupithecia misturata
Tamarack Looper
Eupithecia misturata is a small geometrid moth in the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as pugs. First described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896, it is widely distributed across western North America. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers and other flowering plants, contributing to nocturnal pollination services. Two subspecies are recognized: E. m. misturata and E. m. delzurata.
Eupithecia multistrigata
Eupithecia multistrigata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1896. It is widespread across western North America, ranging from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan south through the western United States to Arizona and New Mexico. The species has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. Like other members of the genus Eupithecia, commonly known as "pugs," it exhibits the characteristic narrow wings and distinctive resting posture typical of this diverse group of inchworm moths.
Eupithecia mutata
spruce cone looper, cloaked pug
Eupithecia mutata is a small moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Pearsall in 1908. The species is restricted to northeastern North America, where it occurs in coniferous forest habitats. The common name "spruce cone looper" reflects its larval association with spruce cones.
Eupithecia nabokovi
Eupithecia nabokovi is a small geometrid moth described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1946. The species is found in the western United States, where adults have been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination. The wingspan measures approximately 19 mm.
Eupithecia neomexicana
Eupithecia neomexicana is a small pug moth in the family Geometridae described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1946. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically western New Mexico and Arizona. Adults are active in late summer, with flight records from late August to early September. The species belongs to a large genus of over 1400 species worldwide, commonly known as pugs for their compact resting posture.
Eupithecia nevadata
Nevada Pug
Eupithecia nevadata is a small pug moth in the family Geometridae, first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1871. It occurs in western North America, with recognized subspecies in Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, and southern California. The species has been documented visiting apple flowers at night, contributing to nocturnal pollination services.