Eupithecia

Eupithecia
	Eupithecia innotata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Subfamily:	Larentiinae
Tribe:	Eupitheciini
Genus:	Eupithecia; Curtis, 1825
Synonyms
	Arcyonia Hübner, 1825; Bohatschia Schütze, 1960; Catarina Vojnits & De Laever, 1973; Delaeveria Schütze, 1961; Dietzea Schütze, 1956; Dochephora Warren, 1895; Dolichopyge Warren, 1900; Dyscymatoge Hübner, 1825; Epicaste Gumppenberg, 1887; Eucymatoge Hübner, [1825]; Euphitecia Carnelutti & Michieli, 1958; Eurypeplodes Warren, 1893; Heteropithecia Vojnits, 1985; Hypepirritis Hübner, [1825]; Lamelluncia Mironov, 1990; Lepiodes Guenée, 1858; Leucocora Hübner, 1825; Mnesiloba Warren, 1901; Neopithecia Vojnits, 1985; Pena Walker, 1863; Petersenia Schütze, 1958; Phaulostathma Warren, 1900; Propithecia Vojnits, 1985; Sebastia Warren, 1895 (preocc. Kirby, 1892); Stenopla Warren, 1900; Tarachia Hübner, 1825; Tephroclystia Hübner, 1825; Tephroclystis Meyrick, 1892; Thysanoctena Warren, 1904; Trichoclystis Warren, 1904; Zygmena Boie, 1839;

Eupithecia is the largest genus of moths of the family Geometridae,^[3] and the namesake and type genus of tribe Eupitheciini. Species in the genus are, like those of other genera in the tribe, commonly known as pugs.^[4] The genus is highly speciose, with over 1400 species, and members of the genus are present in most of the world with exception of Australasia.^[3] Roughly a quarter of described Eupithecia species occur in the Neotropical realm, where they have an especially high species diversity in the montane rain forests of the Andes.^[5] The genus includes a few agricultural pest species, such as the currant pug moth, Eupithecia assimilata, which is a pest on hops,^[6] and the cloaked pug moth, Eupithecia abietaria, which is a cone pest in spruce seed orchards.^[7]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Synonyms ...

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Adult specimens of Eupithecia are typically small, often between 12 and 35 mm, with muted colours, and display a large amount of uniformity between species.^[3] As a result, identification of a specimen as part of genus Eupithecia is generally easy, but identifying the exact species is difficult and often reliant on examination of the dissected genitals.^[3] Most species share a characteristic resting pose in which the forewings are held flat at a right angle to the body—that is, the costal margins of both forewings form a more-or-less horizontal line—while the hindwings are largely covered by the forewings.^[8] They are generally nocturnal.^[3]

Of the species where the larval behaviour is known, most feed from the flowers and seeds of their food plants rather than the foliage.^[3] Many species have a very specific food plant. The larvae of all but one^[9] of the endemic species of Eupithecia from Hawaii are ambush predators of a wide variety of insects and spiders.^[10] These ambush predators have raptorial legs, with which they grab prey that comes into contact with their hind end.^[10]

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Eupithecia

Species

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Species of unknown status

References

Other sources

External links

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