70.154 BF1822 – Marsh Pug – Eupithecia pygmaeata – (Hübner, 1799)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Day-flying
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: This pug is small in size and a rich dark brown in colour. Fairly straight leading edge to the wing with a pointed tip. Small white terminal forewing spots. Fringes to the wing are usually chequered brown and white.
Distribution: (Last record: 2 June 2025 at Gang Mine, Cromford ) – A resident species uncommon and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Has only been recorded from a few areas in the northern part of the county, so a record from the south is exceptional. The species maybe expanding its range in the county.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 8-9mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Gang Mine, Cromford
Selected Images: Derbyshire. Bryan Barnacle © / Drakelow – (2004) – M. Williams©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1972 - 2025) | Immatures: (between 1977 - 1992)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Eupithecia pygmaeata
Found 21 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Eupithecia pygmaeata
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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however,
the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.
Monthly Records By Year:
Eupithecia pygmaeata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Eupithecia pygmaeata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Eupithecia pygmaeata
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required
Recordings By Year: Eupithecia pygmaeata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Eupithecia pygmaeata
AGR: -2.7% | Total % Change: -38.9%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Eupithecia pygmaeata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Eupithecia pygmaeata
Eupithecia pygmaeata
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Eupithecia pygmaeata – 21 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gang Mine NR, Cromford. | SK25X | 11/06/2025 | 2 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42267821 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 09/06/2025 | 4 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42153707 |
| Bonsall Moor | SK25P | 05/06/2025 | 2 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42077198 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 04/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42057280 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 02/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42019451 |
| Holloway | SK35I | 02/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42025205 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 22/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36591098 |
| Holloway, Matlock | SK35I | 20/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36563865 |
| Holloway, Matlock | SK35I | 27/05/2024 | 2 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36137570 |
| Holloway, Matlock | SK35I | 17/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35979799 |
| Holloway | SK35I | 10/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41409120 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJODC |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKD9B |
| Bonsall Moor,Bonsall,Cromford | SK25T | 21/05/2007 | 3 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJI7T |
| Cambridge Wood, Wensley | SK26K | 06/06/1993 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI1PY |
| Cambridge Wood, Wensley | SK26K | 06/06/1993 | 1 | Adult | E. Harrison;F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOQDT |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 05/07/1992 | 14 | Larvae | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI1GF |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 05/07/1992 | 14 | Larvae | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOMUZ |
| Threepieces, Veron Lane, Kelstedge, Ashover | SK36G | 05/06/1985 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHJ40 |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 15/07/1977 | 1 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIKH8 |
| Lathkill Dale (below Haddon Grove), Bakewell | SK16S | 07/06/1972 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIDQV |