Orthoclydon chlorias

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 under the name Larentia chlorias.[1][2] Meyrick went on to give a more detailed description of the species in 1884.[3] In 1903 George Hudson, thinking he was describing the species for the first time, also named the species Venusia princeps.[4] In 1905 Meyrick synonymised this name and placed this species within the genus Xanthorhoe.[5] In 1928 Hudson illustrated and discussed this species in his book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand under its current name Orthoclydon chlorias.[6]

Meyrick described the species as follows:

Male.— 30 mm. Forewings moderate, hindmargin hardly rounded; bright yellow; base of costa dark fuscous-purple; a curved row of three very small dark purple-fuscous spots about J, and another of four spots before middle, costal spots larger; a triangular purple blotch on costa before apex, reaching half across wing, anteriorly margined by a strongly sinuate bluish-black streak; a row of three dark purple-fuscous dots from apex of this to inner margin, and a subterminal row of six similar dots; cilia yellow. Hindwings moderate, hindmargin rounded; rather paler than forewings, with two curved posterior rows of cloudy purple-fuscous dots.[3]

O. chlorias is endemic to New Zealand.[7] Meyrick first collected the species at near Castle Hill.[3] The moth has subsequently also been found at Mount Hector, Tararua range, Dun Mountain, and at Dunedin.[6]

O. chlorias larvae feed on the leaves of Gaultheria species.[8]