70.166 BF1842 – Plain Pug – Eupithecia simpliciata – (Haworth, 1809)
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
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: A large and fat-winged Pug being sandy-brown, sometimes grey-brown in colour, with various colour grades of cross-banding through the forewing. There is a distinct narrow and slightly curved cross-band that lies just beyond the dark central discal spot, which is often conspicuous.
Distribution: (Last record: 2024 ) – A resident species that is scarce and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Found mainly on the Coal Measures and locally in the south of the county where it was once a common species.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 11-13mm
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Not Recorded
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded
Selected Images: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Images by Tony Davison© / Sandiacre – Paul Buxton© 17/7/2024
Plain Pug – Geometridae – Larentiinae – Eupithecia simpliciata – colour code •
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1992 - 2025) | Immatures: (between 1973 - 2010)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Eupithecia simpliciata
Found 35 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 25 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 25 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 simpliciata
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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 simpliciata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Eupithecia simpliciata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Eupithecia simpliciata
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 simpliciata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Eupithecia simpliciata
AGR: -2.4% | Total % Change: -40%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Eupithecia simpliciata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Eupithecia simpliciata
Eupithecia simpliciata
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 simpliciata – 35 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langley Mill | SK44N | 30/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Benniston, Lucy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42807950 |
| Inkersall garden | SK47G | 15/08/2024 | 1 | adult | Don Cambridge | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37899824 |
| Inkersall garden | SK47G | 02/08/2024 | 1 | adult | Don Cambridge | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37596670 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 31/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37701288 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 23/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39934760 |
| Sandiacre | SK43S | 17/07/2024 | 1 | adult | paul buxton | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37135824 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 07/08/2023 | 2 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32265267 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 19/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35177309 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 20/08/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33499324 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 20/07/2020 | 1 | adult | Rose Williams | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38448475 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 02/08/2019 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35161722 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 26/07/2019 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35161660 |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 20/07/2016 | 1 | adult | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35028703 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 02/08/2015 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPOKR |
| Wood Lane,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 18/07/2014 | 1 | Adult | Dave Budworth | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJY6T |
| Dronfield Woodhouse | SK37J | 15/08/2012 | 1 | adult | Williamson, Andy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45453179 |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 12/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OL3I1 |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 02/07/2010 | 1 | Larvae | H.C. Hayward | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPLBT |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 12/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKOUW |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 05/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | David Grundy;M.J. Dale | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKFFY |
| Elgar Drive,Sawley,Long Eaton | SK43R | 11/08/2007 | 1 | Adult | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKIDV |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 01/08/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677862 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 01/08/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHRXI |
| Melbourne, Derbyshire | SK32X | 06/08/2004 | 1 | adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33102390 |
| Spinney Hill,Melbourne | SK32X | 06/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ7H0 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 04/08/2004 | 3 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677861 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 04/08/2004 | 3 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ7EL |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 01/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677860 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 01/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ7B9 |
| Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33R | 10/08/1992 | 4 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHLRO |
| Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33R | 27/07/1992 | 3 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIWHP |
| Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33R | 20/07/1992 | 5 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHLOV |
| Staveley (near Staveley Works) | SK47H | 16/09/1973 | 1 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHWH8 |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/01/1881 | 1 | Adult | [VC57 Recorder] | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001TAGD3 |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/01/1881 | 1 | Adult | P.B. Moore | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPQ2K |