Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eupithecia jejunata McDunnough, 1949
(1) Identification
Eupithecia is a difficult group with many similar species that often require dissection for identification. Many undescribed species are known.
In Texas and across at least part of the South, the thoracic and abdominal patterns of Swift Pug help separate the species from most of the more common Eupithecia's. Elements to look for include the following:
-- Relatively uniform buff thorax with an arching black band in basal area ("collar") and narrower black band at rear margin.
-- Immediately behind the rear black band on thorax is a small white patch which is recognizably paler than the middle of the thorax.
-- Most abdominal segments have a small black dot in the rear center of the segment, usually set in a vague pale line down the center of the abdomen.
Also:
-- The narrow subterminal white line on the FW is nearly complete from costal to inner margin; it may show a small thickening in the lower part but not as conspicuous a white spot as Common Eupithecia. This pale subterminal line usually has two dusky patches on its inner margin.
-- A pale band just distal to the dark PM line is often the "cleanest" (most conspicuous) of the pale areas crossing the wing. It can have a thin dark line bisecting it.
Most of these marks are recognizable in the above Florida example and the following examples from Alabama and Texas:
Range
Texas and Missouri to North Carolina and Florida.
(2) Massachusetts (2019)
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Season
Most records of adults are from March to June.
(3)
Florida records are from January to April; November.
(2)See Also
Eupithecia swettii, which it is often confused with in Texas.
(1)
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Compare to others on the
archived photos of living moths and
pinned plates of Moth Photographers Group.
Print References
Blanchard, A., & E.C. Knudson 1985. The
Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Texas with the description of a new species. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 87:
666.
(1)