# Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)

- Web page: https://www.funwildfacts.com/norden/insect/common-pug
- Published: 2026-05-30
- Last updated: 2026-05-30

## Overview

The Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) is a small moth belonging to the family Geometridae. With a wingspan of only 18-23 millimeters, this is one of the smaller moth species in northern Europe. The wings are greyish-yellow to greyish-brown with faint darker cross-lines and a characteristic white spot on the outer edge of the forewings. The moth is a master of camouflage and resembles a dry leaf or piece of bark when resting with its wings spread flat against the substrate.

The Common Pug is found throughout the Nordic region and is one of the most common geometrid moths. It occurs in various habitats from parks and gardens to forests and heathlands. The moth is active at night and is easily attracted to light, making it a common sight at lamps and windows during summer evenings. The species has developed an ability to adapt to human environments and thrives equally well in urban gardens as in natural forest areas.

The larva is green to brownish and feeds on flowers and fruits from many different plant species, particularly hawthorn, blackthorn, and apple trees. Unlike many other moth larvae that eat leaves, pug moth larvae specialize in eating flowers and immature fruits. This gives them access to nutrient-rich food but also makes them pests in fruit orchards during mass occurrences. The larva pupates in the upper layer of soil or in leaf litter.

The Common Pug has two generations per year in southern Sweden, while northern populations typically have only one generation. The pupae overwinter and adult moths emerge from May to August. The species is important as a nighttime pollinator and also serves as food for bats and nocturnal birds such as nightjars.

## Quick facts

- Weight: 0.00015–0.00025 g
- Length: 0.8–1.2 cm
- Wingspan: 1.8–2.3 cm
- Lifespan: 0.08–0.25 yrs
- Diet: Herbivore
- Conservation Status: Least Concern

## Habitat

The Common Pug is an adaptable species that thrives in many different environments where flowering plants are present. It occurs in deciduous forests, mixed forests, parks, gardens, orchards, and heathlands. The species is particularly common where hawthorn, blackthorn, apple, and other rosaceous plants grow, as the larvae depend on these plants. The moth can find suitable habitats from sea level up to the lower parts of mountain regions.

In urban environments, the species is well known in parks and gardens where fruit trees and hedges of hawthorn and blackthorn provide both food and breeding sites. Adult moths visit many different flowers to sip nectar during the night, making them important pollinators. The species benefits from varied vegetation and flower-rich environments where different plants bloom at different times during the season.

- Forest
- Woodland
- Garden
- Farmland
- Heathland
- Urban

## Seasonal Behavior

The Common Pug has a clear seasonal cycle with the pupa as the overwintering stage. In southern Scandinavia, the first generation flies from May to early July, while the second generation is seen from July to August. In northern Sweden and Norway, there is usually only one generation flying from June to July. The larvae are active from June to September, finding food on flowers and immature fruits. The pupae rest in the soil or under leaves from September to April. Adult moths are nocturnal and are most often seen at light sources from dusk to dawn.

## Breeding

- Incubation: 14 days
- Offspring: 50–150 

## Behavior & Ecology

- Activity Pattern: Nocturnal
- Social Behavior: The Common Pug lives a solitary life and meets other individuals only during mating.
- Migration: Resident
- Population: Very common and stable species throughout the Nordic region

## Did you know?

- The name 'pug' comes from the larva's way of moving - it 'measures' the ground by arching its body in a loop, just as if it were measuring distances!
- Despite its small size, a female can lay up to 150 eggs during her short lifespan of just a few weeks.
- The Common Pug can detect the scent of flowers from several hundred meters away with its sensitive antennae.
- The larva can change color depending on which plant it feeds on - from light green on apple blossoms to darker brown on hawthorn.
- The moth has specialized scales on its wings that reflect light and give it a silvery shimmer in moonlight.
- A pug moth larva eats its own eggshell immediately after hatching - this provides nutrition and important bacteria for digestion.
- The moth can perceive ultraviolet light that humans cannot see, which helps it find flowers in the dark.
- The genus Eupithecia contains over 1,400 species worldwide, making it one of the largest moth genera!

## Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Animalia
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Geometridae
- Species: Eupithecia vulgata

## Image

- URL: https://images.djurfakta.com/animals/vanlig-dvargmatare/1777623629405-1.jpg
- Photo: Donald Hobern from Canberra, Australia
- License: CC BY 2.0

## Other languages

- sv: https://www.djurfakta.com/norden/insect/vanlig-dvargmatare
- da: https://www.dyrefakta.com/da/norden/insect/almindelig-dvaergmaler
- no: https://www.dyrefakta.com/norden/insect/vanleg-dvergmalar