Ash pug

Ash pug
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Eupithecia
Species:	E. innotata
Subspecies:	E. i. fraxinata
Trinomial name
Eupithecia innotata fraxinata
Synonyms
Eupithecia fraxinata Crewe, 1863

The ash pug (Eupithecia innotata f. fraxinata, originally known by the binomial name Eupithecia fraxinata, but now believed to be a form of Eupithecia innotata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is widely distributed in the UK.

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 caterpillars feed on ash. The species overwinters as a pupa.

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

References

• Chinery, Michael (1986, reprinted 1991). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
• Skinner, Bernard (1984). The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.
• Waring, Paul; Townsend, Martin & Lewington, Richard (2003) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Hook, UK. ISBN 0-9531399-1-3.