Ash Pug

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Ash Pug
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Geometridae Genus: Eupithecia Species: E. fraxinata
Binomial name
Eupithecia fraxinata Crewe, 1863

The Ash Pug (Eupithecia fraxinata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. There are two races found in the British Isles, the nominate race which is widely distributed and a coastal race which is only found on the east and south-east coasts.

The forewings are generally dark brown or grey with few distinguishing marks apart from a small white tornal spot which may not be present on the frequent melanic forms. The wingspan is 18-24 mm. Two broods are produced each year with the adults flying in May and June and again in August ^[1]. Moths of the spring brood are usually darker in colour than the later specimens.

The larvae of the two races have different food plants, the nominate race feeding on ash and the coastal race feeding on sea-buckthorn. The species overwinters as a pupa.

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

[edit] 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