Golden rod pug

The golden-rod pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and parts of the Near East. In the British Isles it is widespread but rather locally distributed.

The ground colour of the forewings is pale grey brownish or fuscous, occasionally with an ochreous tinge, darker along the costa, and are marked with distinctive pale fascia and a whitish tornal spot. The forewing patterning is dominated by a conspicuous, dark discal and smaller costal spots. The obtusely angulated dark grey striae are not defined except on the costa. There is a pale interrupted subterminal line. Melanic forms are quite frequent. The wingspan is 17–20 mm.

Two broods are produced each year with the moths flying in May and June and again in August.

The larva feeds on the flowers of goldenrod and ragwort. The species overwinters as a pupa.