Brindled Pug
Eupithecia abbreviata
The caterpillars are remarkable mimics, perfectly matching the color and texture of the oak catkins they eat to remain invisible to birds.
- Scientific name
- Eupithecia abbreviata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Geometridae › Eupithecia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, oak forests, mature gardens, and parklands.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on oak flowers (catkins) and leaves; adults feed on tree sap and spring nectar sources like sallow blossoms.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
- Size
- Wingspan of 19 to 22 mm.
- Lifespan
- Up to 1 year (with the adult moth phase lasting only 2 to 3 weeks).
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Loss of ancient oak woodlands, light pollution disrupting mating flights, and broad-spectrum pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. It does not bite, sting, or carry toxins. If one enters your home, gently cup it in a container and release it outdoors after dark near oak trees.
The brindled pug ( Eupithecia abbreviata ) is a moth of the family Geometridae found in Europe including the British Isles as well as further east to the Baltic States, Armenia, Turkey and the Caucasus. South it reaches North Africa.
Photo: purperlibel, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/c8daff97-ac86-4e59-b08b-eb0fad3668c6.md