common eupithecia

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

With more than 1,400 species worldwide, Eupithecia is by far the largest genus of moths in the world. There are more than 140 species found in North America north of Mexico. At least 14 species are found in Minnesota. Eupithecia are small to very small moths with muted colors and indistinct markings that make them difficult to identify. Some are look-alikes and cannot be identified by simple visual examination. Many museum collections have specimens that have been unreliably identified.

Common eupithecia is a common, small to very small pug moth. It occurs in the United States east of the Great Plains and on the West Coast, in adjacent Canadian provinces, and in Mexico. It is one of the most common species, or at least one of the most commonly reported species, in the eastern United States. It is common in Minnesota.

Adults are small, with a wingspan of just ½″ to ¾″ (12 to 20 mm).

The face is flat, sloping, and light cream-colored. The sense organs attached to the mouth (palpi) are long, blade-like, and dark smoky brown. They extend forward far beyond the front of the face. On the male, the antennae have numerous bundles of long plume-like hairs (cilia) on a raised, peg-like base (fascicle). Each antenna segment has three pairs of fascicles and a single bristle at the base. The female antennae lack the fascicles but are evenly and finely ciliate and also have a bristle at the base.

The forewing is pale grayish-brown with dark markings. There is a large, conspicuous, black spot in the middle of the wing (discal spot), and a subterminal line consisting of a row of white spots. The innermost spot, near the inner (anal) angle of the wing, is larger and more prominent. The hindwing is similarly colored but with a smaller discal spot and a less prominent subterminal line.

The caterpillar is small, about ⅝″ long. The color is variable and often blends with the plant on which it feeds. The first six or seven abdominal segments have a broad, oblique, subdorsal line on each side that often joins with the line on the opposite side to form a downward-pointing arrow. There is often a weak narrow line in the middle (middorsal line) and a weak narrow line on each side (subdorsal lines). There is always a narrow white line below the breathing pores (spiracles) on each side (subspiracular lines). The surface of the body is rough due to seven to nine relatively deep creases on each abdominal segment. Mature caterpillars are present from May until the first frost in the fall.

Wingspan: ½″ to ¾″ (12 to 20 mm)

Woodlands, fields, gardens

At least two generations per year in Minnesota: April to late October

Adults are active at night and will come to lights. The wings are held flat when at rest.

Pupa overwinter

Many woody and herbaceous plants, including grape, juniper, oak, viburnum, willow, dock, St. John’s wort, aster, black-eyed Susan, clover, fleabane, goldenrod, joe-pye weed, sunflower, and yarrow.

Sources

7, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.

Widespread and common

Eupithecia miserulata common eupithecia

Eupithecia miserulata, common eupithecia, caterpillar on Queen of the Prairie flowers, July 13, 2020. Photos taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

on a gladiola flower

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Eupithecia miserulata, common eupithecia, caterpillar on Queen of the Prairie flowers, July 13, 2020. Photos taken at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI.

Location: Stearns County

on a gladiola flower

Location: Woodbury, MN

Location: Woodbury, MN

Location: Woodbury, MN