Photo © Mike Wall
Cloaked Pug
Eupithecia abietaria
Checklist Number70.149 [B&F: 1815]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Subfamily: | Larentiinae (Eupetheciini) |
| Genus: | Eupithecia |
| Species: | abietaria |
| Authority: | (Goeze, 1781) |
Uncommon, in coniferous woodland and plantations, in northern England and mid-Wales, with a thin scattering of records elsewhere. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight the occasional records of this species in the area suggest migration, but it is possible that a resident population occurs, as it evidently did at one time in the New Forest. There seems to have been an upturn in records in the 21st Century, and 2012 saw a minor influx with five sightings across all vice-counties. Further reports came in 2019 and 2023. Wingspan 21-25 mm. Large size and prominent discal spot make this a fairly distinctive pug. Larva feeds within young shoots of various coniferous trees, including Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce, European Silver-fir and Noble Fir, over-wintering as a pupa.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
VC8 Wiltshire (Hants county)
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damerham (SU11) | 20/08/2012 | one | Paul Toynton | Adult |
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanklin (SZ58) | 29/07/1983 | one | Jim M Cheverton | Adult |
| Totland (SZ38) | 04/07/2012 | one | Sam Knill-Jones | Adult |
| Freshwater (SZ38) | 05/07/2012 | one | David B Wooldridge | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester (SU43) | 19/06/1980 | one | D H Sterling | Adult |
| Parkhill Inclosure, NF (SU30) | 05/09/1991 | one | Sean Clancy | Adult |
| Fareham (SU50) | 12/06/1993 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Ironshill Inclosure, NF (SU30) | 21/07/2004 | one | Brian Elliott, Tony Pickles | Adult |
| Romsey (SU32) | 27/07/2008 | one | Mike Baker | Adult |
| Southsea (SZ69) | 27/05/2012 | one | John R Langmaid | Adult |
| Fareham (SU50) | 30/05/2012 | one | Keith Wheeler | Adult |
| Catisfield (SU50) | 28/07/2019 | two | Amy L Robjohns | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burghclere (SU46) | 1984 | one | G G Eastwick-Field | Adult |
| Northwood (SU43) | 27/06/1986 | one | Reg A Bell | Adult |
| Burghclere (SU46) | 29/05/1989 | one | G G Eastwick-Field | Adult |
| Basingstoke (SU65) | 26/05/2012 | one | Mike Wall | Adult |
| Basingstoke (SU65) | 14/06/2023 | one | Mike Wall | Adult |
