Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eupithecia pusillata "of authors" (not Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775)
All-Leps treats the North American interruptofasciata as a distinct species, not a true synonym nor subspecies of the Eurasian E. pusillata
described by Packard in 1873
Numbers
uncommon to rare in most of range
Size
wingspan 15-20 mm, based on Internet photos
larva length to 16 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with numerous dark transverse lines: single basal and median lines, and triple AM and PM lines; AM line sharply angled in middle; PM line jogs outward from costa; black oval discal spot interrupts median line; subterminal line pale, indistinct; terminal line checkered with dark and pale scales which continue into fringe; hindwing similarly colored but noticeably smaller than forewing
Larva: two distinct color morphs. The more common green morph has a green head and body, black middorsal stripe, and cream-colored lateral flange. The brown morph has a light tan head with dark markings; the body is rusty brown with a black middorsal stripe above the cream-colored lateral flange, and purplish brown below. [Canadian Forest Service]
Genitalia:
♂
Ventral plate of male 8th sternite is a simple rod arising from a broadened base; the apex of this rod is split into two short, outwardly directed prongs.
Range
Yukon to Newfoundland, south in the east to Massachusetts, south in the west to California
Habitat
forested areas containing foodplant; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from July to October in British Columbia; March or April to July in California
larvae present from May to early August, and pupation occurs in July and August in BC
Food
larvae feed on Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Life Cycle
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg
Internet References
live larva images [brown form] plus foodplant, distribution, description, biology, seasonality, status (Canadian Forest Service)
live larva image [green form] plus common name reference, description, foodplant, biology (C.T. Maier
et al, USDA Forest Service, forestpests.org)
presence in California 3 specimen records with locations and dates (U. of California at Berkeley)
distribution in Canada list of provinces and territories (CBIF)
images, links, and references of the Eurasian
E. pusillata (Markku Savela, FUNET)
live adult images of the Eurasian
E. pusillata (Peter Buchner, Austria)
