Eupithecia

Eupithecia is a large genus of moths of the family Geometridae. There are hundreds of described species, found in all parts of the world (with 45 in the British Isles alone), and new species are discovered on a regular basis.

Eupithecia
Eupithecia innotata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
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 species form the bulk of the group commonly known as pugs. They are generally small with muted colours and specific identification can be difficult. As a group they are easily identified by their narrow wings held flat at 90° to the body with the hindwings almost hidden behind the forewings.

The larvae of many species feed on the flowers and seeds of their food plants rather than the foliage. Many species have a very specific food plant.

Some Hawaiian Eupithecia are predators of other insects (E. orichloris, E. staurophragma, E. scoriodes). They mimic twigs but when sensitive hairs on their backs are triggered, they quickly grab the insects touching them. The defensive behavior of snapping may have pre-adapted Hawaii's ancestral Eupithecia for shifting to predation from feeding on pollen. Also, insect predators that behave in this way are lacking in Hawaii's fauna.