You know, I think you may be right. This specimen has the pale brown area along the ST line just near the subapical region that is found in graefii. I didn't notice that before, but that marking and the overall appearance does look more like graefii now that I compare the two.

Any thoughts Robin?

The rusty discal spot looks pretty consistent among other specimens, as does the diffuse rusty subapical shading in the subterminal area. It seems pretty obvious now when comparing the two at CBIF. I must have overlooked them at the time.

Even the discal spots in Jeff Miller's photo of graefii appear to "bleed" rustiness around the edges, so I can't agree with his written description of the discal spot as being black.

Good eye, Dick!

I think the body patterns are fairly good for species comparisons in this genus but best if fresh specimens. I have around 16 species of Eupithecia from my backyard and others still to be posted. Here is one with a DNA sequence which has very similar pattern and colors to the one above.

closer to interruptofasciata than any other species I saw on the web. E. palpata is not on the California list but there's 3 specimen records of interruptofasciata from April, May, and July. The sharply-angled triple AM line and other features on the forewing match up well with the CBIF specimen.

All-Leps (which shows 130 specimens) gives pusillata as a synonym of interruptofasciata. In Europe, E. pusillata is called the Juniper Pug.

Nice sleuthing Robin. I was able to do a quick browse earlier to try and narrow it down, but didn't have time to check range info before I left. Excellent information. From what I've found interruptofasciata is considered both a synonym and a subspecies of the European pusillata (# 7551), listed in some places as ssp E. pusillata interruptofasciata and simply E. interruptofasciata in others. I've noticed 2 hodges numbers on MPG for interruptofasciata - 7551 and 7461.1.