Chalastra pellurgata

Chalastra pellurgata
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Chalastra
Species:
C. pellurgata
Binomial name
Chalastra pellurgata
Walker, 1862[1]
Synonyms[2][3][4]
  • Chalastra pelurgata Meyrick, 1884
  • Selidosema pelurgata (Meyrick, 1884)
  • Selidosema pellurgata (Walker, 1862)
  • Itama cinerascens Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875
  • Chalastra cinerascens (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875)
  • Stratocleis streptophora Meyrick, 1883

Chalastra pellurgata, also known as the brown fern moth or the pale fern looper, is a moth of the family Geometridae.[1] This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1862. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country. It inhabits native forest. This species is extremely variable both in its larval and adult life stage. Larvae of this species are active during spring and summer. They feed on the fronds of fern species. C. pellurgata pupates by forming a thin cocoon on the soil amongst leaf litter and moss. Adults are on the wing throughout the year but are most common from September to March. During the day adult moths can be observed resting on dead fern fronds. They become active from dusk and are attracted to light.

  1. ^ a b Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 459. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dugdale1988 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Chalastra pellurgata Walker, 1862". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NZBiota was invoked but never defined (see the help page).