Golden-rod Pug
Goldenrod Pug ( Eupithecia virgaureata )
The Goldenrod Pug ( Eupithecia virgaureata ) is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the tensioner ( Geometridae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The Goldenrod Pug is an unobtrusive but quite frequent Spannerart. In the departed condition, the type to be easily confused with a number of similar types. A determination can help be the longer Fühlerbewimperung of the male.
Caterpillar
The slender caterpillar is yellowish or greenish and has a reddish brown or dark green angle drawing and the same color side spots.
Flight time
The Goldenrod Pug forms per year from two distinctly separate generations. These fly from early April to late June and from mid-July to early September.
Habitat
Due to the different lifestyles of the two generations of goldenrod flowers tensioner relies on different habitat structures. The caterpillars feed on polyphagous and but taking advantage of dry, partially ruderal sites also moist areas on the peripheral areas of floodplain and swamp forests. An important role is played by the presence of ragwort and goldenrod species. The Goldenrod Pug colonized Calluna heaths. For the larvae of the first generation bushes and hedges are of great importance. The species is not very specialized and has already penetrated into gardens. It is therefore a culture follower, among others, by the quick spread of the Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis ) and the giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea ) benefited.
Way of life
The caterpillars show a different behavior depending on the generation. The caterpillars of the first generation feed primarily on leaves of deciduous trees, while the second generation are mainly found in the flowers of Solidago and Senecio species.
The caterpillar food plants include:
- Taglichtnelke ( Silene dioicam )
- Genuine clematis (Clematis vitalba )
- Monogyna hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Purgier buckthorn ( Rhamnus cathartica )
- Small burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella Saxifraga )
- Parsnip ( Pastinaca sativa)
- Cow Parsley ( Anthriscus sylvestris)
- Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris)
- Hogweed ( Heracleum sphondylium )
- Heather ( Calluna vulgaris)
- Tansy Phazelie ( Phacelia tanacetifolia )
- Agrimony ( Eupatorium cannabinum )
- Common Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea )
- Giant Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea )
- Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
- Fuchs cal ragwort ( Senecio fuchsii )
- Ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea )
- Hoary Ragwort ( Senecio erucifolius )
- Fine beam ( Erigeron annuus )
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium )
- Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
- Marsh thistle ( Cirsium palustre )
- Ordinary Bitter Herb ( Picris hieracioides )
The brown to black coloration of the caterpillar resembles that of withered crops and parts used for camouflage. The moths are crepuscular and nocturnal.
Dissemination
The species is distributed from the Iberian Peninsula over western and central Europe, including the British Isles in the temperate zone to Japan. The goldenrod flowers tensioner is in Lapland, the most common species of the genus. The southern area boundary runs through the northern Mediterranean.