Bug FAQAustralian Pug Moth
Chloroclystis filata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: Filata Moth
The Australian Pug Moth has a wingspan of about 20 to 25 mm and brownish forewings often with a large white patch. It can be told apart from similar moths by a dark brown band across the hindwings and a notched hindwing edge. The larvae feed on flower blossoms of acacias, other Fabaceae, gorse and Senecio, and they probably pupate on the ground.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewings are brownish and many have a large white patch in the middle-lower area. A dark brown band runs across the hindwings, and the hindwings are notched.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 20 to 25 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Larvae feed on the flowers of shrubs such as acacias, gorse and Senecio.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults and larvae use flower blossoms of acacias, other Fabaceae, gorse and Senecio as food sources.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Pupation likely occurs on the ground.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In New Zealand the moth is active throughout the year and is nocturnal, attracted to light.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to southeastern Australia and Norfolk Island.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The dark brown hindwing band and notched hindwing edge help separate it from similar Chloroclystis species.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae of the Australian Pug Moth eat?
They feed on the flowers of acacias, other Fabaceae, gorse and Senecio.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see these moths?
In New Zealand they are on the wing all year and are attracted to lights at night.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this moth apart from similar species?
Look for a dark brown band across the hindwings and a notched hindwing edge; many have a white patch on the brown forewings.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria
Pale BeautyCampaea perlataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Lace-border MothScopula limboundataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Riband WaveIdaea aversata
Yellow Shell MothCamptogramma bilineata
Large Maple Spanworm MothProchoerodes lineolaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroclystis_filata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.