Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFGeometridae Members: Eupithecia Members: 26 NC Records

Eupithecia jejunata McDunnough, 1949 - Swift Pug Moth

Eupithecia jejunataEupithecia jejunataEupithecia jejunataEupithecia jejunata
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Geometroidea		 Family:
Geometridae		Subfamily:
Larentiinae		Tribe:
Eupitheciini		P3 Number:
91a0194		 MONA Number:
7486.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Adult Markings: "A small, insignificant species" (McDunnough, 1949). The forewings are short and broad, with a pointed apex (McDunnough; Rindge, 1985). The ground color of both pairs of wings is a general smoky gray. A small discal spot is usually present and a postmedian line runs fairly evenly, paralleling the outer margin. A pale, slightly dentate subterminal line is also present, located just beyond two lines that are separated from the postmedian by a pale space. The terminal area is shaded with smoky gray, often forming patches opposite the cell and above the tornus. A broken, dark terminal line is present, and the fringes are fairly obviously checkered. The hindwings are light smoky with a darker discal streak and a curved postmedian line. According to Rindge (1985): In the south, this species can be recognized by its small size, short palpi, and relatively broad wings; there are no other species with this combination of characters.
Wingspan: 15 mm (McDunnough, 1949)
Forewing Length: 7.5 to 8.5 mm (Rindge, 1985)
Adult Structural Features: The palps extend just shortly beyond the frons (McDunnough, 1949). The eighth sternite is broad and subtriangular with truncate apex.
Structural photos
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.
Eupithecia jejunataAlamance 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: Our records are all associated with fairly xeric oak woodlands. Along the coast, several records come from maritime forests or scrub; in the Fall-line Sandhills from fairly xeric barrens; and from the Piedmont from a monadnock that supports a stand of mafic dry-xeric oak-hickory forest.
Larval Host Plants: The early stages and food plants are unknown (Rindge, 1985). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [W-PK]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 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 jejunata - Swift Pug Moth

Photos: 16
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-30
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment: Tergite; aedeagus; valve.
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-28
Madison Co.
Comment: Juxta and anellus.		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-27
Madison Co.
Comment: Male (dissected).		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-27
Madison Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2025-03-15
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2025-03-15
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: SPH on 1994-03-20
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: SPH on 1994-03-20
Dare Co.
Comment:
Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: SPH on 1992-04-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Eupithecia jejunataRecorded by: SPH on 1992-04-06
Orange Co.
Comment: