{{Short description|Species of moth}} {{Speciesbox | image = Chloroclystis filata male.jpg | image_caption = Male specimen | image2 = Chloroclystis filata female.jpg | image2_caption = Female specimen | taxon = Chloroclystis filata | authority = (Guenée, 1857)<ref name="Taxapad">{{cite web |last=Yu |first=Dicky Sick Ki |url=http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?taxonidLC=82863421 |title=''Chloroclystis filata'' (Guenee 1857) |website=Home of Ichneumonoidea |publisher=Taxapad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325050821/http://www.taxapad.com/local.php?taxonidLC=82863421 |archive-date=25 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> | synonyms = *''Eupithecia filata'' <small>Guenée, 1857</small> *''Phibalapteryx rubroferrata'' <small>Walker, 1862</small> }}

'''''Chloroclystis filata''''', the '''Australian pug moth''', is a species of moth of the family Geometridae.<ref name="NZOR">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/eadcb843-81d4-4e68-b8a7-123dec42e4ae|title=''Chloroclystis filata'' (Gueneeb, 1857)|website=New Zealand Organisms Register |publisher=Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd|accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> It is native to Australia and is found in the south eastern quarter of Australia and on Norfolk Island. It self-introduced itself to New Zealand in 1960. In Australia host plants are acacias (the blossoms) and Fabaceae (the petals).

== Taxonomy == This species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1857 and originally named ''Eupithecia filata''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guenée |first=A. |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9808121 |title=Histoire naturelle des insectes. Spécies général des lépidoptères |publisher=Roret |year=1857 |volume=10 |location=Paris |pages=353 |language=French |trans-title=Natural history of insects. General species of Lepidoptera.}}</ref> In 1958 L. B. Prout discussed this species under the name ''Chloroclystis albiplaga'' as an aberration of ''filata''.<ref name="Dugdale1988" /> The placement of this species in the genus ''Chloroclystis'' is in doubt. As a result, this species has also been referred to as ''Chloroclystis'' (s.l.) ''filata.'''<ref name="NZIB">{{Cite Q|Q45922947|page=459}}</ref>''''' The male holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.<ref name="Dugdale1988">{{Cite Q|Q45083134|176}}</ref>

== Description == left|thumb|Living specimen showing white patches on forewings and the dark brown band and notched edges on the hindwings. This species has a wingspan of between 20 and 25&nbsp;mm.<ref name="Knox2024" /> It has forewings that are brownish in colour. This species is variable with some specimens having the whole of their forewing being brown, pinkish brown or a black shade.<ref name="Hoare2014" /> Other specimens of this species have large white patches in the middle to lower portion of their forewings.<ref name="Knox2024" /><ref name="Hoare2014">{{Cite Q|Q59396160|pages=91}}</ref> This species can be distinguished from other species with a similar appearance as it has a dark brown band across the hindwings.<ref name="Knox2024" /> The hindwings of this species are notched which assists with distinguishing this species from the brown coloured specimens of ''Chloroclystis inductata''.<ref name="Hoare2014" />

== Distribution == This species is native to Australia where it is found in the south eastern parts of that country as well as Norfolk Island. This species was introduced to New Zealand in 1960 and is found throughout the country.<ref name="Dugdale1988" /><ref name="Knox2024">{{Cite Q|Q130640046|pages=46}}</ref> It is regarded as being very common in New Zealand.<ref name="Hoare2014" />

== Habitat and hosts == The larvae of this species feed on the flowers of shrubs. In Australia host plants are in the genus ''Acacia'' (the blossoms) and species in the genus ''Fabaceae'' (the petals).<ref name="N">{{cite web |title=Common Moths of the Adelaide Region - Sheet 1 |url=http://www.butterflygardening.net.au/PDFs/mothPoster1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323081717/http://butterflygardening.net.au/PDFs/mothPoster1.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2018 |accessdate=8 May 2018 |website=Butterfly Conservation South Australia}}</ref> In New Zealand have been observed feeding on the flowers of gorse and ''Senecio'' species.<ref name="Crowe2002">{{Cite Q|Q120878300|pages=21}}</ref><ref name="Knox2024" />

== Behaviour == This species likely pupates on the ground.<ref name="Hoare2014" /> In New Zealand this species is on the wing throughout the year.<ref name="Crowe2002" /> They are nocturnal and are attracted to light.<ref name="Hoare2014" />

==References== {{Commons}} {{Wikispecies}} {{Reflist}}

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Category:Chloroclystis Category:Moths of Australia Category:Moths of New Zealand Category:Moths described in 1857 Category:Taxa named by Achille Guenée