Wormwood Pug

The Wormwood Pug (Eupithecia absinthiata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a common species across the Palearctic region and the Near East.

The wingspan is 21-23 mm and the forewings are warm brown with two black spots along the costa with a black discal spot completing a distinctive triangle. There is a narrow pale line near the fringe with a distinct whitish spot near the tornus, although this is not as prominent as in the rather similar Currant Pug. The hindwings are greyish brown. The species flies at night in June and July and is attracted to light.

As the name suggests, the larva feeds on the flowers of mugwort (which is sometimes called "Common Wormwood") but will also feed on the flowers of a range of other plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.


 * 1) The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

 * Achillea
 * Aconitum
 * Artemisia
 * Aster
 * Calluna - Heather
 * Cirsium - Creeping Thistle
 * Erica
 * Eupatorium
 * Pimpinella - Burnet-saxifrage
 * Senecio
 * Solidago - Goldenrod
 * Tanacetum
 * Tripleurospermum - Mayweed