Eupithecia phoeniceata, the cypress pug, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Jules Pierre Rambur in 1834 and it can be found in Europe.
The wingspan is 18–22 mm. The ground colour of the forewings is grey or pale greyish ochreous conspicuously patterned with a characteristic extremely oblique pale median fascia, which makes the wing appear narrower than it really is. There are blackish-marked veins near the termen. Forewings with a small dark discal spot. The forewings are distinctly elongate. The hindwings have variable markings but usually resemble the forewings. The thorax is grey, with an anterior black collar.Eupithecia phoeniceata full description Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. British Insects: The Genera of Lepidoptera-Geometridae. Version: 29 December 2011Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) The Macrolepidoptera of the World. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.pdf *Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World. In: Axel Hausmann (Hrsg.): The Geometrid Moths of Europe. 1. Auflage. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, Riley, A.M. and Prior, G. British and Irish Pug Moths A Guide to their Identification and BiologyApollo Books
The moths flies from August to September depending on the location.
The larvae feed on Cupressus macrocarpa and other cultivars.
References
External links
Cypress Pug on UKMoths Lepiforum e.V.