Eupithecia pusillata (Denis & Schiff., 1775)

Description: Wingspan 17-21 mm. Forewings generally light brown, but the colour can vary in intensity. There are a series of fine darker crosslines, which are not always clearly defined. The hindwings are paler and suffused with dark brown towards the outer margin.

Key Identification Features:

• Habitat
• Pale hindwings and no visible discal spot

Sets:

Flight Period: Late July to mid-August. Skinner gives July to September as the normal flight period in Britain.

Status: There are no confirmed recent records for this species, which is likely to be more widespread than records suggest. There are two mid 1990s records from Hillsborough, Down and Portadown, Armagh but the latter has not been confirmed. The Hillsborough record is based on a specimen taken from a Rothamstead trap and was identified as being this species. There are old records dating back to the late 19th century from Armagh, the Mournes and the Divis area of Belfast.

Ecology: This species is associated with limestone hills and other suitable habitats where the foodplants grow. The larvae feed from April to early June on Juniper Juniperus communis and other cultivated varieties. It overwinters as an egg.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; widespread across northern and central Europe to eastern Asia.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1854 Agassiz number: 70.158

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: