Photo © David G Green
Valerian Pug
Eupithecia valerianata
Checklist Number70.181 [B&F: 1821]
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: | valerianata |
| Authority: | (Hübner, [1813]) |
Nationally scarce (Nb) in fens, marshes, damp woodland and other damp areas throughout much of the British Isles, but inconspicuous and perhaps overlooked. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight rare and local, frequently suffering from a high degree of parasitism, and this factor may be responsible for keeping numbers in check. Wingspan 15-18 mm. Similar to Slender Pug E. tenuiata and Lead-coloured Pug E. plumbeolata. Sometimes found as a larva, if sought in the flowerheads of the foodplant. Larva feeds on flowers and seeds of Common Valerian, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Park (SU11) | 15/06/2002 | one | David G Green | Adult |
VC10 Isle of Wight
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater (SZ58) | 1929 | - | H G Jeffery | Larval |
| Alverstone (SZ58) | 1930 | - | Anon | - |
| Appleford (SZ58) | 01/08/1933 | - | S Wakely | Larval |
| Shanklin (SZ58) | 11/05/2008 | one | Jim M Cheverton | Adult |
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherque NR (SU50) | 17/06/1971 | one | Richard J Dickson | Adult |
| Crab and West Wood (SU42) | 1980 | - | D H Sterling | - |
| West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42) | 01/08/1980 | - | D H Sterling | Larval |
| Crab and West Wood (SU42) | 31/07/1985 | - | Tony Pickles | Larval |
| Beaulieu (SU30) | 16/06/1994 | one | Brian Ivon-Jones | Adult |
| Beaulieu (SU30) | 16/06/1995 | one | Brian Ivon-Jones | Adult |
| Broughton Down (SU23) | 28/06/2000 | one | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Noads Copse (SU23) | 30/07/2002 | one | Barry Fox | Adult |
| Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50) | 05/07/2009 | one | Barry Duffin | Adult |
| Hengistbury Head (SZ19) | 12/06/2023 | one | Mike Jeffes | Adult |
VC12 North Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotstone Down (SU53) | 1961 | - | Anon | - |
| Abbotstone Down (SU53) | 1962 | - | Anon | - |
| West Wood, Sparsholt (SU42) | 31/07/1985 | - | Tony Pickles | Larval |
| Porton Down (SU23) | 01/07/2000 | - | David G Green | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 24/06/2008 | three | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 04/07/2008 | two | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 12/06/2009 | three | Tony Dobson | Adult |
| Winnall Moors NR, Winchester (SU43) | 30/06/2009 | one | Tony Dobson & Rob Edmunds | Adult |
