Epping Pug Eupithecia massiliata

Wingspan c. 18-19mm.

Two individuals of this European and North African species were found by Tim Green in Epping Forest in Essex, in April 2002, and were subsequently identified by genitalia dissection.

Although it is possible that these were genuine vagrants, it is suspected that they may have been accidentally imported, possibly from Portugal, as pupae in cork.

Abroad, the larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of oak (Quercus), including holm oak (Q. ilex) and cork oak (Q. suber).