Foxglove pug


The foxglove pug is a moth of the family Geometridae. It has a scattered distribution across Europe, closely following the range of its food plant. Where present it can be very common. The nominate subspecies E. pulchellata pulchellata is found in the British Isles, in Central Europe the subspecies is E. pulchellata intermedia. In the Pyrenees, it occurs to a height of 2,400 metres.

Description

The wingspan is 18–22 mm and the species is quite colourful for the genus, with alternating bands of dark brown and buffish orange on the forewings. In some races the buff bands can be very pale. There are dark crosslines. The hindwings are similarly marked but generally paler. It flies at night in May and June and is attracted to light.
The larva is quite variable but is normally yellowish-green with purplish markings. It usually feeds inside foxglove flowers. Soon after hatching it seals the mouth of the flower with silk and feeds on the reproductive parts of the flower. The corolla of the flower persists on the plant after those of uninfested flowers have fallen. Somewhat surprisingly, given this very specialized feeding ecology, it has also been recorded feeding on Brassica oleracea in Malta. The species overwinters as a pupa. The preferred habitat is the edge of woods, glades and park landscapes, gardens and warm mountain slopes.

Subspecies