Izatha convulsella
| Izatha convulsella | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Izatha |
| Species: | I. convulsella
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| Binomial name | |
| Izatha convulsella | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Izatha convulsella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1864. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found on the eastern side of the South Island as well as in locations such as Wellington, Ōtaki, Palmerston North, Taihape and Waipawa in the North Island.This species is similar in appearance to its close relative Izatha gekkonella but is slightly larger and more white/grey in appearance and is more wide spread in geographic range than its close relative. Larvae have been fond under the bark of Rimu trees but it has been hypothesised that they feed on lichens growing on the bark. Adults are on the wing from late September until February.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 under the name Gelechia convulsella.[2][3] Walker based his description on specimens collected in Nelson by Mr Oxley.[3][2] In 1892 Edward Meyrick, thinking he was describing a new species, named this species Semiocosma paraneura.[4] Meyrick synonymised this name in 1915 and placed this species in the genus Izatha.[5] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Izatha convulsella in his 1928 publication The butterflies and moths of New Zealand.[6] The female holotype, collected in Nelson, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2][7]
Description
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The wingspan is 14–20 mm for males and 13.5–19 mm for females.[7]
Hudson described the larva of this species as follows:
The larva, which lives under the scales of the bark of Rimu trees (Dacrydium cupressinum), is about 1⁄2 inch in length, stout with a horny dark brown head and two horny plates on the second segment. The rest of the body is dull yellowish-brown with six rows of horny warts each emitting a long bristle.[6]
Hudson described the adult of this species as follows:
The expansion of the wings is about 1⁄2 inch. The fore-wings are rather narrow with the termen oblique, dull bluish-grey irregularly speckled with black and with white markings; there is a dark basal patch; a rather broad, curved, white band from the costa at about 1⁄4; a very indefinite darker central band; an indistinct whitish line from 2⁄3 of the costa to the tornus; there are three or four small black marks in the disc before the middle; a black spot beyond the middle and a much fainter spot before the apex; a series of marginal dots extend from the costa at about 3⁄4 to the tornus. The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous, darker towards the apex and termen.[6]
This species is very similar in appearance to its close relation I. gekkonella.[7] The most accurate way to confirm the identity of specimens is by dissection of the male genitalia as I. convulsella has a comb like structure in the reproductive organ of the males of the species.[7] Generally I. convulsella is slightly larger than I. gekkonella and has fewer yellow-tipped grey scales and so has a more white and grey appearance in comparison to the I. gokkonella which, as a result of having a larger quantity of these scales, has a more brownish appearance.[7] I. convulsella also has lighter coloured hindwings in comparison to I. gekkonella.[7]
Distribution
[edit]This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It is widespread in the eastern part of the South Island.[7] In the North Island, it has only been recorded from Wellington, Ōtaki, Palmerston North, Taihape and Waipawa.[7] This species is not found in Auckland.[7]
Behaviour
[edit]Adults are on wing from late September to February.[7]
Host species
[edit]Larvae have been recorded living under the bark of Dacrydium cupressinum.[7] The true food plant may be lichens growing on the bark.[7]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b "Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)". NZOR. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Dugdale , J. S. (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research: 94. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.14. ISSN 0111-5383. Wikidata Q45083134.
- ^ a b Francis Walker (1864), List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, Part XXIX. - Tineites, London: Natural History Museum, London, p. 656, Wikidata Q110191308BHL page 38948236
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Edward Meyrick (May 1892). "On new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 24: 219. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q111014837.BHL page 3285029
- ^ E. Meyrick (12 July 1915). "Revision of New Zealand Tineina". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 47: 216. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q63123349.BHL page 3343654
- ^ a b c Hudson, G. V. (1928), The butterflies and moths of New Zealand, Illustrator: George Hudson, Wellington: Ferguson and Osborn Limited, p. 282, LCCN 88133764, OCLC 25449322, Wikidata Q58593286BHL page 61899893 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Robert Hoare (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 65. Illustrator: Birgit E. Rhode. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research: 77–78. doi:10.7931/J2/FNZ.65. ISSN 0111-5383. OCLC 698473812. Wikidata Q44975107.
