Description: Wingspan 18-22 mm. Forewings pale ochreous brown with a grey-coloured central band which is clearly visible in fresh specimens. The ground colour is variable and with paler forms often predominating at coastal sites. There is a small black discal spot towards the median area of the forewing. Hindwings similar in appearance with a small dark-coloured discal spot. There is also a whitish-grey sub species hebudium that is found in the west of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Beginning of May to early August. Skinner gives May to August as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic; widespread throughout central Europe as far east as the Urals.

Irish Distribution: Widespread and frequently encountered in southern counties especially in north Down, where it occurs in a variety of habitats.

Ecology: A large distinctive pug associated with woodland, moorland and probably many other areas where its foodplant occurs commonly. Adults come frequently to light in small numbers and often vary a little in size and pattern, with the coastal specimens being a little brighter and more richly marked. The larvae feed during July and August on the flowers of Foxglove Digitalis purpurea. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Large size and dark-coloured discal spot
• Pale grey central band
• Discal spot on hind wings

Distribution Map from NBN: Eupithecia pulchellata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Eupithecia pulchellata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.