Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths (Geometroidea) » Geometrid Moths (Geometridae) » Larentiinae » Eupitheciini » Eupithecia

Genus Eupithecia

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Eupithecia graefii Inchworm on Burdock 2011 - Eupithecia miserulata 2389 Eupithecia columbiata 7459 - Eupithecia columbiata unknown geometrid on nettles - Eupithecia Eupithecia maestosa Eupithecia Moth - Eupithecia graefii Eupithecia lafontaineata - Hodges#7548.1 - Eupithecia lafontaineata - female Eupithecia sharronata - male
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Geometroidea (Geometrid and Swallowtail Moths)
Family Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
Subfamily Larentiinae
Tribe Eupitheciini
Genus Eupithecia
Other Common Names
Pug
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Eupithecia Curtis, 1825
Explanation of Names
Generic epithet Eupithecia is Greek meaning "beautiful ape." (1)
Commonly referred to as pugs because of the short underwings. (1)
Numbers
By far the largest moth genus with over 1400 species worldwide. About 160 Eupithecia species are found in America north of Mexico. (2) 62 species in Canada (CBIF). Several species are Holarctic.
Identification
Many Eupithecia species require dissection for identification and there are many undescribed species. (2) Adults at rest often hold their long forewings (with hindwings hidden beneath) at right-angles to the body, giving a distinctive "soaring hawk" appearance.
Food
Larvae feed mostly on Asteraceae and also other plant families.
Life Cycle
1. Caterpillar. 2 and 3. Pupa. 4. Adult

Print References
Curtis, J., 1825. British Entomology; being Illustrations and Descriptions of the Genera of Insecta found in Great Britain and Ireland, 6: 64.
Ferris, C.D., 2017. Lepidoptera of North America 14. Geometroidea: Geometridae: Larentiinae: Eupitheciini (Part). Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University, p.1-103 (PDF). (3)
McDunnough, J.H. 1949. Revision of the North American species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 93(8): 537-728. (4)
Pearsall, R.F. 1908. The Genus Eupithecia and its Allies. The Canadian Entomologist. 40: 344-45.
Rindge, F.H. 1985. The Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Mississippi and Louisiana. American Museum Novitates. 2809: 1-18 (5).
Ross, D.A. & D. Evens, 1956. Annotated list of forest insects of British Columbia, part 3 - Eupithecia spp., part 4 - Hydriomena spp. (Geometridae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 52: 36-39 (6)
Internet References
pinned adult images of all Eupithecia species in Canada (CBIF)
Moth Photographers Group – images of pinned adults
John Curtis
Works Cited
1.An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names.
Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.
2.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
3.Lepidoptera of North America 14. Geometroidea: Geometridae: Larentiinae: Eupitheciini (Part)
Clifford D. Ferris. 2017. Contributions of the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity Colorado State University, p.1-103.
4.Revision of the North American species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)
James H. McDunnough. 1949. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 93(8).
5.The Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Mississippi and Louisiana
Frederick H. Rindge. 1985. American Museum Novitates 2809:1-18.
6.Annotated list of forest insects of British Columbia, part 3 - Eupithecia spp., part 4 - Hydriomena spp. (Geometridae).
D.A. Ross & D. Evens. 1956. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of British Columbia.52: 36-39.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 9 January, 2005 - 4:18pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Bbarnd, Maury Heiman, Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, Robert Lord Zimlich, Randy Hardy, Kyhl Austin, Blocky
Last updated 14 April, 2021 - 9:55am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact