70.161 BF1851  –  Geometridae –  Larentiinae – Eupithecia virgaureata – Golden-rod Pug – (Doubleday, 1861) Adult Macro:  CAT 3 – Difficult to identify/Very rare/Scarce species (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants)/County-level first records – images or specimen may be required – Difficult to identify /Very rare/Scarce (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants)/County-level first records       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Geometridae  >> Larentiinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Larch Pug, Grey Pug, Wormwood Pug, Currant Pug
ID pointers: A difficult species to identify. Chequered Veins, a good sized thoracic, conspicuous dark central and tonal spots. Often a white spot in trailing corner. Sometimes a white mark on back of thorax.
Distribution:  (Last record: 19 July 2025 at Melbourne )  –  A resident that is widely distributed across Derbyshire and is not uncommon. Most examples are of the melanic form ab nigra Lempke, so can be confused with other species.
Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  August /  –  May – June and July – August Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen, Rowan Wakefield/ Paul Buxton / Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 17-23mm
Forewing: 10-12mm
Food Plant: Ragworts and Goldenrod
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Tony Davison
Last Recorded General Area – Melbourne

Selected Images:  Photos by kind permission of Christian Heintzen© – Glossop May 2024 and  Rowan Wakefield© – Buxton 7/8/2021 – Sandiacre – Paul Buxton© / Melbourne (2025) Tony Davison©



Distribution Map for Eupithecia virgaureata

Found 213 records
    ↳ 79 from After 2025
    ↳ 59 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 75 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

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 virgaureata

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Eupithecia virgaureata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Eupithecia virgaureata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Eupithecia virgaureata
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 virgaureata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Eupithecia virgaureata
AGR: 1.6%   |   Total % Change: 41.8%


CUSUM Analysis: Eupithecia virgaureata
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 9 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.

Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2025, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2021, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Eupithecia virgaureata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Eupithecia virgaureata
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Eupithecia virgaureata – 213 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
BelperSK34U06/09/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F01/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y03/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Littleover, DerbySK33G01/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Dinting Nature ReserveSK09C06/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H10/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A11/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y13/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ilkeston, DerbyshireSK44K26/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Mickleover gardenSK33C01/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Mickleover gardenSK33C03/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A01/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Inkersall gardenSK47G04/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Norton Lees, SheffieldSK38L06/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y05/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y07/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Inkersall gardenSK47G11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y10/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U10/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z01/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y11/07/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y15/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Norton Lees, SheffieldSK38L18/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
MellorSJ98Z16/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ilkeston, DerbyshireSK44K11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ingleby Ave, DerbySK33L18/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y17/07/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derby DESK33I05/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U18/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X19/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A17/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z17/07/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y22/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wingerworth, DerbyshireSK36Y25/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale South Tip , DerbyshireSK47K24/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley garden SYASK47H25/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y25/07/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Jim Mart Nature ReserveSK36S26/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z25/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y27/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N28/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Torside Clough, Crags at mSK09T22/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H30/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y29/07/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F13/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F25/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T05/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A30/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T22/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Mickleover gardenSK33C25/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ilkeston, DerbyshireSK44K28/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derby DESK33I30/06/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay MeadowSK09G14/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cown Edge Farm marshSK09A17/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay MeadowSK09G19/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cromford MoorSK25X01/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A03/05/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lowcroft, Buxton SK, UKSK07S04/05/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y11/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47K11/05/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley garden SYASK47H12/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y16/05/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U17/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N29/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G03/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L13/05/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Simmondley Oak woodSK09B19/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L23/05/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long Clough, Herod CloughSK09G24/05/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H17/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y20/04/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y26/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Froggatt, Hope ValleySK27N26/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47L28/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Belper, DerbyshireSK34N25/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Belper, DerbyshireSK34N26/04/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G24/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midland Road, DerbySK33M21/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar Clough WoodlandSK09U28/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y02/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y02/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y05/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wirksworth MoorSK35B04/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Park Head, Crich.SK35M04/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T10/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
SandiacreSK43S21/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y30/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Herod CloughSK09G29/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L04/05/20245adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, The TwitchlingsSK09K11/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G15/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shire Hill, southSK09M16/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G25/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R17/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale , Seymour , DerbyshireSK47L07/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar CloughSK09U01/08/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shire Hill, southSK09M02/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L03/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G06/08/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L06/08/20235adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay meadowSK09G10/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G11/08/20234adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F06/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ninelands RoadSK28F07/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y30/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L22/07/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G28/07/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L31/07/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F05/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G07/06/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ninelands RoadSK28F17/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R20/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N24/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shire Hill, southSK09M09/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L14/05/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay meadowSK09G26/05/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L27/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar CloughSK09U28/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F29/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R23/07/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R23/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K17/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K22/07/20222adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ferneydale AvenueSK07Q18/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-TrentSK43A06/05/20222adultvc57_irecords_extract
Birch ValeSK08I06/05/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F15/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R01/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K01/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R18/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R24/07/20212adultvc57_irecords_extract
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K16/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ninelands RoadSK28F26/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y22/09/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y12/08/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y14/07/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N01/06/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Elgar Drive, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R30/05/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Waingroves WoodsSK44E18/07/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland-Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z05/08/20151Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z30/07/20141Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z04/09/20133Larvavc57_irecords_extract
Lang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R02/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R02/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R07/06/20132Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R07/06/20132Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (Ilam Tops)SK15L10/08/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (Ilam Tops)SK15L10/08/20092Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Glossop (Shire Hill Quarry)SK09M22/07/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X14/07/20061adultvc57_irecords_extract
Spinney Hill,MelbourneSK32X14/07/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V29/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V19/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V29/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V19/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y21/07/20031Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y21/07/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ivy Cottage, YoulgreaveSK26C20/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wirksworth (site not precise)SK25X07/10/19945Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Whitwell Wood,WhitwellSK57E27/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Whitwell Wood,WhitwellSK57E27/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R09/05/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F10/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F07/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F28/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F28/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F07/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F10/08/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F09/05/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F09/05/19851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F01/08/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19844Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F14/08/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F14/08/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19844Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F01/08/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F26/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F31/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F22/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F28/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F17/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F30/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F22/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F30/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F31/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F17/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F28/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F26/07/19841Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F04/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F05/08/19833Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F14/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F11/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F05/08/19833Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F04/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F11/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F14/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F30/07/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F30/07/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F04/08/19823Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19823Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F04/08/19823Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F06/08/19823Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F17/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F31/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise)SK35L20/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F17/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F31/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bradford dale (site not precise)SK26B24/09/19771Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data

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