Description: Wingspan 17-21 mm. The forewings are similar in colour to the Wormwood Pug which is normally reddish brown. They are also narrower and the apex is more pointed. There are two small black-blotches on the costa, a small black discal spot and a fine pale sub-marginal line, which is reduced to a series of small dots. The hindwings tend to be greyish brown. Early May to late August. Skinner gives June and July as the normal flight period in Britain.

World Distribution: Common and widespread throughout northern Europe with scattered populations in parts of western Europe.

Irish Distribution: Widely distributed in scattered sites across southern counties. It is difficult to determine the validity of many of the early records of this species as it closely resembles the Wormwood Pug E. absinthiata and there are no voucher specimens. There are recent confirmed records from the Argory and Peatlands Park, Armagh, Rehaghy Mountain, Tyrone and Rosslea, Fermanagh.

Ecology: This is a species associated with moorland and heathland and not generally seen outside its preferred habitat. Adults are attracted to light in very small numbers. The larvae feed on the flowers of Heather Calluna vulgaris during August and September. It overwinters as a pupa.

Key Identification Features:

• Narrow forewings
• Broken sub-marginal line
• Black discal spot and costal blotches

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

iNaturalist: Eupithecia goossensiata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.