Double-striped pug

The double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is a widespread and common species, being found throughout the Palearctic region, including the Near East and North Africa.

Double-striped pug
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Geometridae
Genus:	Gymnoscelis
Species:	G. rufifasciata
Binomial name
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Haworth, 1809)
Synonyms
List Phalaena rufifasciata Haworth, 1809 Phalaena bistrigata Haworth, 1809 Eupithecia bucovinata Hormuzaki, 1893 Eupithecia globulariata Milliere, 1861 Larentia improbata Lienig & Zeller, 1846 Eupithecia incertata Milliere, 1876 Eupithecia parvularia Herrich-Schäffer, 1848 Geometra pumilata Hubner, 1813 Eupithecia recictaria Boisduval, 1840 Larentia tempestivata Zeller, 1847 Eupithecia insulariata Stainton, 1859 Gymnoscelis insulariata Gymnoscelis bicoloria Bethune-Baker, 1891 Gymnoscelis obtusata Rebel, 1940 Gymnoscelis palmata Pinker, 1962 Gymnoscelis lundbladi Prout, 1940 Gymnoscelis fernandezi Pinker & Bacallado, 1975 Tephroclystia schulzi Rebel, 1914 Gymnoscelis schulzi

This is a variable species but always easy to recognize due to the two prominent dark fascia across each forewing which give the species its common name. The forewing ground colour ranges from light to dark reddish brown. The crosslines are distinct. The inner margin of the pale white sub-marginal line bears black marks. The hindwings are pale grey with darker fringes, darker lines and a small black discal spot. There is a dark band across the basal segments of the abdomen. The wingspan is 15–19 mm.

The caterpillars reach a length of up to 17 millimeters and have a very variable basic colouration. It ranges from whitish to yellowish green, brown, red to purple. On the back there is a pale band marked with a series of dark diamonds or triangles. The drawing resembles a rear-facing trident, is sometimes crow-foot-like and can occasionally be only weakly formed. The head is yellowish brown.

Two, sometimes three, broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing in April and May (sometimes earlier), July and August, and sometimes later in the autumn. Later broods are more heavily marked. It flies at night and is attracted to light and flowers, both of its food plants and others.

The larva feeds on the flowers of a huge range of plants (see list below) and has also been known to feed on the larvae of other lepidoptera. The species overwinters as a pupa.

Recorded food plants

• Calluna - heather
• Citrus
• Clematis - traveller's joy
• Cynara - cardoon
• Cytisus - broom
• Dianthus
• Diospyros - persimmon
• Epilobium - rosebay willowherb
• Ilex - holly
• Ipomoea - sweet potato

• Lycopersicon - tomato
• Malus - apple
• Olea - olive
• Rosa - rose
• Rubus - raspberry
• Senecio - ragwort
• Sorbus - rowan
• Ulex - gorse
• Vicia - broad bean
• Zea - maize

Further reading

• Chinery, Michael (1991) [1986]. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-219137-7.
• Skinner, Bernard (1984). Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Apollo Books. pp. 65, 89. ISBN 87-88757-90-0.

External links

• Lepiforum e.V.