# Slender pug

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The **slender pug** (***Eupithecia tenuiata***) is a [moth](/source/Moth) of the family [Geometridae](/source/Geometridae). It was first described by [Jacob Hübner](/source/Jacob_H%C3%BCbner) in 1813 and is found throughout Europe and western parts of the [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic). The larva feeds on the [catkins](/source/Catkin) of [willow](/source/Willow) (*Salix* species).

## Life cycle and description

A single brooded species, this is one of the smallest of the geometrids, with a [wingspan](/source/Wingspan) of only 14–16 mm. The forewing ground colour is light greyish ochreous. There are numerous curved dark fuscous striae, the veins and costa are ochreous brown. The edges of the biangulate median band form dark costal spots. The forewing has a dark ovoid discal mark. The forewings lack a tornal spot and the hindwings are whitish grey with dark striae, and a small discal spot.[2][3][4] [5]

It flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light and can be found by day at rest on the trunks of large sallows.[6]

### Ova

When first laid, the eggs are cream and they change to dark red before over wintering. The 0.06 mm eggs can be found from June to early March on willows.[7] The egg is laid in cracks in bark of sallow and hibernates.

### Larva

The [larvae](/source/Larva) feed internally on the [catkins](/source/Catkin) of male willows and externally on female catkins from February to April. They are mostly found on goat willow ([*S. caprea*](/source/Salix_caprea)) but also on eared ([*S. aurita*](/source/Salix_aurita)) and grey willows ([*S. caprea*](/source/Salix_caprea)).[7] Fully grown, a larva is 14−16 mm long and has a dull-green body with indistinct blackish markings along the dorsal area. The head is almost black and the first segment is marked with brown.[8]

### Pupa

Pupation is in a tough cocoon on the soil surface or among fallen catkins in May and June.[7] It takes approximately six weeks.[8]

## Distribution

Found throughout Europe as well as [Armenia](/source/Armenia) the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus), [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(country)) and [Turkey](/source/Turkey).

## References

1. ["*Eupithecia tenuiata* (Hübner, 1813)"](https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/969eb772-7384-403b-ba14-bb81af35ec1f). *Fauna Europaea*. Retrieved 13 January 2019.

1. Watson, L & Dallwitz, M J. ["*Eupithecia tenuiata* (Hübner)"](http://www.delta-intkey.com/britin/pug/www/tenuiata.htm). *Insects of Britain and Ireland: The Pug Moths (Lepidoptera-Geometridae)*. Retrieved 13 January 2019.

1. Prout, L. B. (1912–16). Geometridae. In A. Seitz (ed.) *The Macrolepidoptera of the World*. The Palaearctic Geometridae, 4. 479 pp. Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart.[pdf](https://archive.org/details/macrolepidoptera1216seit)

1. Vladimir Mironov: The Geometrid Moths of the World. In: Axel Hausmann (Hrsg.): *The Geometrid Moths of Europe*. 1. Auflage. Volume 4: Larentiinae II. Perizomini and Eupitheciini. Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2003, ISBN 87-88757-40-4

1. [The Moths of the British Isles Second Series/Chapter 9#230](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Moths_of_the_British_Isles_Second_Series%2FChapter_9)

1. Waring, Paul; Townsend, Martin; Lewington, Richard (2003). *Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland*. Hook, Hampshire: British Wildlife. p. 106 & 141. ISBN 0-9531399-1-3.

1. Riley, Adrian M; Prior, Gaston; Wilson, David (2003). *British And Irish Pug Moths*. Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 33–36. ISBN 0-946589-51-8.

1. Porter, Jim (1997). *The Colour Identification Guide To Caterpillars of the British Isles*. London: Viking. p. 47. ISBN 0-670-87509-0.

## Further reading

- [Chinery, Michael](/source/Michael_Chinery) *Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe* 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- [Skinner, Bernard](/source/Bernard_Skinner_(entomologist)) *Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles* 1984

## External links

- [Slender pug at *UKMoths*](https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/eupithecia-tenuiata/)
- [*Lepiforum e.V.*](http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Eupithecia_Tenuiata)
- [*De Vlinderstichting*](http://www.vlindernet.nl/vlindersoort.php?vlinderid=235&vq=Eupithecia) (in Dutch)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Slender pug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender_pug) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender_pug?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.