Izatha mesoschista
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Izatha
Species:
I. mesoschista
Binomial name
Izatha mesoschista
Meyrick, 1931

Izatha mesoschista is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931[1] using seven specimens collected by George Hudson in Wellington during the months of December and January.[2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 work The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Izatha balanophora[3] but later corrected his taxonomic error in 1939.[4]

Description

The larva of this species has not been described.[5]

The adult moth has a wingspan of 15.5–21 mm for males and 17–25 mm for females.[5] Adults are on wing from October to February.[5]

The appearance of the adult moths of this species is variable and as a result it was originally confused with Izatha balanophora.[5] However it can be distinguished from this species as I. mesoschista has a bold black line in the middle of the disk on its forewings.[2] This line also assists in distinguishing I. mesoschista from Izatha epiphanes.[5] Other than using their collection location as a guide, it is difficult to distinguish between I. mesoschista and Izatha haumu.[6] I. haumu is found at the top of the North Island and I. mesochista is present south of this locality, over the rest of the North Island.[7] However a male I. mesoschista can be distinguished from both I. haumu and I. epiphanes by the species characteristic three pronged tip of its genitalia.[5]

Distribution

I. mesoschista is endemic to New Zealand.[8][9] This species has been found throughout the North Island, except the Aupouri Peninsula, Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa.[5] It is regarded as one of the most common and widespread species in the genus Izatha to be found in the North Island.[5]

Host plants

Coriaria arborea

Specimens have been reared from Populus species, presumably from the dead wood, and also from pine logs.[5] Larvae of this species have also been extracted or reared from Coriaria arborea and Coprosma species.[7]

Trapping techniques

This species is readily attracted to light.[5]

References

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Wikispecies has information related to Izatha mesoschista.
  1. ↑ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–123. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  2. 1 2 Meyrick, Edward (1931). "New Species of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 92–97.
  3. ↑ Hudson, George Vernon (1928). The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 279. Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  4. ↑ Hudson, George Vernon (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 448. Archived from the original on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hoare, R. J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.
  6. ↑ Bennik, Rebecca M.; Buckley, Thomas R.; Hoare, Robert J. B.; Holwell, Gregory I. (2015-11-04). "Molecular phylogeny reveals the repeated evolution of complex male genital traits in the New Zealand moth genusIzatha(Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae)". Systematic Entomology. 41 (2): 309–322. doi:10.1111/syen.12155. ISSN 0307-6970. S2CID 83666096.
  7. 1 2 Bennik, Rebecca Marie (2014). Sexual conflict and genital evolution in moths (PDF) (Thesis). University of Auckland. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
  9. ↑ "Izatha mesoschista Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-27.


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