Eupithecia absinthiata

(Clerck, 1759)
Wormwood Pug

Sort #: 1786 | P3 #: 910426 | MPG #: 7586.1 | PFG Page #: 194
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Larval feeding type: Mostly on the flowers
Larval substrate: Solidago gigantea* (Smooth Goldenrod); a wide variety of plants, incl. Solidago (Goldenrod), 'Aster', Artemisia (Wormwood), Achillea (Yarrow) have been reported
Phenology: Adult: 8/03 to 9/20 (51 records)

Comment: Very similar to E. indistincta, but flies later in the year. S. Whitebread found a larva feeding on Solidago gigantea 24-Oct-2018, which emerged 16-Sep-2019. It is possible that Massachusetts populations feed exclusively on Solidago and that the flight period therefore coincides with their flowering period.

Status in MA (automated assessment): Fairly widespread, uncommon
Status in N. America: Holarctic
MA Endangered Species Act status: None
First Year Reported: 1890
Last Year Reported: 2022

Distribution by County: Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes, Nantucket
Number of Records: 65