Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Eupithecia Members: 32 NC Records

Eupithecia columbiata (Dyar, 1904) - Columbia Pug Moth

Eupithecia columbiataEupithecia columbiataEupithecia columbiataEupithecia columbiata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Larentiinae		Tribe:
Eupitheciini		P3 Number:
91a0165		 MONA Number:
7459.00		 Other Common Name:
Columbia Eupithecia
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes, (1949); McDunnough (1949)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color is slightly brownish to gray; the outer third is somewhat mottled due to vague fuscous shades opposite the cell and at the fold (Forbes, 1948). The postmedian is even rather than concave, although bending sharply inward at the costa; it is blackish, toothed with black on its inner edge and followed by a pale shade. The subterminal is clear, in a darker shade, and ending with a white tornal patch. The abdomen is dark wood-brown with dark tufts; the second segment is contrastingly paler than the third. This species is very similar to palpata, but that species has an evenly darkish gray abdomen, a more brownish or buffy wing color, and a smoother, less mottled appearance (Forbes, 1948).
Wingspan: 17-18 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Male antennae are pubescent and the female's are simple (Forbes, 1948). The eighth sternite has two heavy rods joined at the base, forming a lyre-shaped structure ending in spurs.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Eupithecia columbiataAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on a range of hardwoods, including maple (Acer), alder (Alnus), serviceberry (Amelanchier), birch (Betula), poplar (Populus), cherry (Prunus), and willow (Salix) (Robinson et al., 2010; Beadle & Leckie, 2012). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W-PK]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Eupithecia columbiata - Columbia Pug Moth

Photos: 23
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-02
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment: Aedeagus and genital plate.
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: Specimen dissected (see companion images).		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: Genital plate.
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: Male genitalia. 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-03-25
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-04-13
Madison Co.
Comment: ID based on pointed forewings and pale basal abominal segment, as well as the early date; cannot be confirmed without dissection, however		Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-04-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia columbiataRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-04-09
Warren Co.
Comment: