Moths of North Carolina
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18 NC Records

Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759) - Wormwood Pug Moth

Eupithecia absinthiataEupithecia absinthiataEupithecia absinthiata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Geometroidea Family: GeometridaeSubfamily: LarentiinaeTribe: EupitheciiniP3 Number: 91a0289 MONA Number: 7586.10
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: "The light chocolate brown color of the wings, the large black discal dot on the primaries only, and the dark costal patches at the inception of the t.a. and t.p. lines are characteristic of the species, these features being retained even when the cross lines have become obscure" (McDunnough, 1949, as E. geminata).
Adult Structural Features: The palpi are moderate in length, semiporrect, projecting considerably beyond the front, and rather
bushily tufted (McDunnough, 1949). The male antennae are finely and rather evenly ciliate, with a mild tendency towards the trifasciculate type. The black band across segment II of the abdomen is fairly well defined and accentuated by paler scaling on the preceding segment. When not rubbed off, the small dorsal tufts are mixed black and white. The eighth sternite is of the usual conical type, with broad, bluntly truncate apex which shows indications of a small median excavation.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of structural features or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Larval Host Plants: - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [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 absinthiata - Wormwood Pug Moth

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-09-04
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-08-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-09-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2015-09-16
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-08-23
Ashe Co.
Comment: