Yorkshire Status: Local resident.
This is one of the most commonly misidentified Pugs. We get a lot of claims which turn out to be other species as worn pugs can often look rather like this species. It is a moth of damp areas where the larvae feed on angelica. It is said to also use hogweed at times, though there is little evidence for this in Yorkshire - all larvae have been on angelica. It is a large and rather plain-looking species. The vernacular and scientific names refers to the two spots on the costa, each side of the discal spot. Peak flight time is 1st August and records over four weeks away from then should be looked at critically. The flight time phenogram shows an odd early "tail" with many records in June. These are likely to be incorrect. Literature suggests it is under-recorded due to difficulty in identification. I would suggest the opposite! Since we have been more rigorous in checking records, numbers in the county have curiously reduced.
Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: There have been several records since 1970 from vice-counties 61 to 64. Whether it has actually become more common or whether there is more interest in identifying pugs with the better literature now available is difficult to ascertain. The larvae are often found on wild angelica growing under sallow bushes in damp areas (MRB pers. comm.). | Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required. | |
Recorded in 65 (33%) of 200 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1883. Last Recorded in 2023. Additional Stats |