Bug FAQLime-speck Pug
Eupithecia centaureata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
The Lime-speck Pug has a wingspan of about 20 to 24 mm and its wings are mostly white with a black blotch on the forewing costa. Two generations are produced each year; adults fly at night in summer and autumn, the species overwinters as a pupa, and the larvae feed on a variety of flower heads.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
In the form ab. obscura the wings have a smoky overall tint.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 20 to 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on the flowers of many plant species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Two broods are typically produced each year. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen throughout summer and autumn, flying at night and attracted to light and nectar-rich flowers.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The ab. obscura form has a smoky suffusion over both wings, which can cause confusion. The ab. centralisata form from Palestine and Central Asia shows much weaker markings, sometimes almost absent except for the discal spot.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What does the Lime-speck Pug look like?
Its wings are mostly white with a distinctive black blotch on the forewing costa; some forms have a smoky tint.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find this species?
It is common across the Palearctic region, including Europe, Central and East Asia, the Near East and North Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on the flowers of many different plants and are usually green or yellow with red markings.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime-speck_pug
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.